Monday, July 30, 2007

We are...


One of my favorite urban legends was actually a rural legend. Actually it was land grant institution legend.

There’s a semi-famous ice cream parlor in State College Pennsylvania that’s smack dab in the middle of the Pennsylvania State University. The Creamery. Maybe you’ve heard of it? (I hadn’t either)

Anyhow – the legend was that you could only buy ice cream made in the creamery (side note: Ben and Jerry learned all they know of Ice Cream through this Penn State institution). You could buy it in the Creamery or at football or basketball games…but that was it.

The reason? Well, it was because the fat content was too darn high. It was actually illegal to sell it off campus!

I’d forgotten about this legend until a couple of our friends from those parts came and visited last weekend. (it was a warm up for the Sublet appearance this coming weekend – Griffin could tell you the number of seconds and minutes until they get here). I was talking to my friend and somehow we got on the subject of the local ice cream in Cincinnati. There’s a cult like zeal for Graeters – which has good ice cream…and it tastes like the ice cream at the local place in your town…and in most towns…but it’s the favorite here. Anyhow, I mentioned how I always thought it was funny that people bought into the “it’s illegal outside of Penn State” legend that had been circulating for years.

And my educated friend…not just educated, he’s downright smart…said, “no, that’s true. It’s butter fat content is 14%. It’s illegal”

Not you too ….they’ve gotten to you too?

Did you know that they sell lard…vegetable oil….olive oil….Big Macs….but Penn State’s ice cream is so full of fat that it’s illegal? It’s against the law?

So they can ignore FDA regulations on college campuses? You can’t buy and eat it across the street, but here the FDA has no power?

So I’m here to put this to rest: It’s legal to sell ice cream from the Creamery any ‘ol place that they’d like to sell it. They just don’t.

Did you know if you eat pop rocks with a Mr. Pibb, you’re jaw will double in size?

4 comments:

  1. just the thought of Graeters Raspberry Chip ice cream is making my mouth water. i know it is not the point of your post but i am SUCH a cult member to that one! sure wish we had a Graeters in MO!!!

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  2. Anonymous12:48 PM

    oprah listed graeter's as her favorite ice cream in the world.

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  3. Anonymous3:22 PM

    no, murph, if you eat pop rocks followed by mr. pibb, your stomach will explode! it's how "mikey" from the life cereal commercials died. really!!! ;)

    oh yea and graeter's ice cream isn't just good - it is the best ice cream ever!

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  4. Was it Nate? That would suck if it was...

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