Downsizing: The Incredible Shrinking Ice Cream Package

Have you purchased a half gallon of ice cream lately? If you answered yes, you are either lying or very lucky. The half gallon package of ice cream is all but extinct.

First the industry reduced the standard half gallon package to 1.75 quarts and now the standard is 1.5 quarts. For those expecting a commensurate reduction in price, you will be surprised to learn that there was none. Industry executives plead that reducing the size of the package was a more palatable alternative to raising prices or using lesser quality ingredients. For a mea culpa offered by an ice cream industry executive. See http://icecreamjournal.turkeyhill.com/index.php/2008/08/15/shrinking-ice-cream-package/.

The half gallon package is not alone. Haagen Dazs, for example, has reduced the size of its pint to 14 ounces from 16 ounces and yet continues to label its package a "pint." As you might imagine, other ice cream companies are not happy about this development. Ben & Jerry's responded to Haagen Dazs' repackaging with the following statement:

One of our competitors (think funny-sounding European name) recently announced they will be downsizing their pints from 16 to 14 ounces to cover increased ingredient and manufacturing costs and help improve their bottom line. We understand that in today's hard economic times businesses are feeling the pinch. We also understand that many of you are also feeling the same, and think now more than ever you deserve your full pint of ice cream.

To the extent that you share Ben & Jerry's sentiments, and continue to want to purchase a full half gallon of ice cream, I can suggest a visit to Whole Foods Market. When I last purchased ice cream at Whole Foods, they were offering a half gallon of their store brand ice cream for $4.99--a fair price for a good wholesome product.

Eat up,
The Regular Guy

Conte's: An Oasis In A Food Desert

339 Witherspoon St
Princeton, NJ 08542
(609) 921-8041

Those of you familiar with Princeton will not be surprised by my saying that the area is not a hotbed of culinary delights. In fact, my wife and I came close to not moving to the area eighteen years ago due to the dearth of decent eating establishments. I remember being served pizza at one now-defunct Italian restaurant that reminded me of the version served in high school cafeterias - - you know, white bread slathered with ketchup and a slice of velveeta.

While there has been considerable improvement over the years, the area remains food challenged. Conte's is a notable exception. It has consistently turned out the best pizza in the area for a generation now.

The decor is early VFW hall. The restaurant/bar is housed in a large rectangular room with no frills. Metal tables and chairs serve as the sole decoration.

The bar is long and continues down the entire left side. Two televisions hang behind the bar. These are not of the HD variety; they are vintage console sets that go well with the bottled Rolling Rocks that are the bar's staple. Micro brews have yet to find a comfortable home here. The bar, however, serves a noble service since there is usually a wait for a table. One of my fonder memories, is sitting at the bar with the kids and watching them slurp down Shirley Temples.

While waiting for a table, a server will approach to take your order. If there are menus, I have yet to see one. The pizza is thin, almost wafer like. It is cooked until well-done, the cheese bubbling and golden brown and the crust crisp and dark. All of the standard toppings are available and are fresh and generally superb. Those seeking pineapple or thai chicken toppings will be treated as if they ordered corned beef on white bread with mayonnaise at a Jewish Deli.

This is not the California Pizza Kitchen. It is real food for real, if somewhat stiff and preppy, people.

Eat up,
The Regular Guy.