Ice Cream Cone Taste Test

Where I grew up, there was an old milk barn that served five flavors of oversized ice cream scoops atop thick and sturdy cones. My parents used to take me there on the hottest summer nights, and I always ordered the same thing—mint chocolate chip—and took delight in the fresh, cool treat. I could hardly wait to get to the cone, where the melted remnants of my dessert drizzled down the insides for the perfect bite of mint-soaked crunchiness. With summer finally upon us, I went on a mission to find just the right cone, so I could better recreate my favorite childhood treat. We covered the SAVEUR conference table with ice cream cone varieties from Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe's, and our local A&P supermarket, tasted them all, and picked our favorites — surprisingly, the favorite in every category was almost entirely unanimous. From the crispest waffle cone to the tastiest and lightest cup cone, these four varieties stood out as the best of the best.