Feeling patriotic about ice cream
 Ice cream maker Tim Atkins describes the ice-cream making process.  The finished product is ready for tasting as Tim and Rob are ready to hand out samples to the veterans.  Pictured, from left, Rob Seitzinger, Matt Lattouf, Hank Spavena, Karl Giulian and Al Carusi. |
STONE HARBOR – It started off as a fun challenge. I was
invited to come up with a new flavor for Springer’s Ice Cream
and I immediately accepted. Meredith Gardner, of Parker and
Partners Marketing, on behalf of Springer’s, e-mailed with the
idea. I asked around for ideas at the office, from friends and
other adults. It was only when I got home and brain-stormed with
my son Michael, 9, and daughter Caroline, 12, that came up with
a concept. Not just a flavor, but a cause.
At first I began thinking of Jersey Fresh fruit because we’re
huge fans of the local strawberry and blueberry seasons.
Blueberry ice cream was the starting point. Michael, who’s been
asking me for Neapolitan ice cream sandwiches this summer, asked
if we could do a three-flavor concoction. And then Caroline, who
once ate her way through a u-pick-‘em strawberry patch as a
toddler, threw in her favorite berry and, suddenly, we were all
wide-eyed with the same idea: Red, white and blue! Freedom
Fighter ice cream! And we would donate a portion of the proceeds
to care packages for soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan! It was
too perfect.
But would they go for it?
The next day I e-mailed the idea to Gardner and she said she
would take it to the people at Springer’s. I could tell she
thought we were nuts. (To be honest, we kind of are, but how did
she find out so fast?)
Surprisingly, she came back and said Mary Goldenthal at
Springer’s loved the idea and wanted to go ahead with it. We set
a date for Aug. 7 at 1 p.m. My kids were thrilled when they
found out – heck, so was their dad.
On that day, I went to work in my typical summer attire of gym
shorts and T-shirt. I called Gardner and asked what to expect.
“TV-40 is going to be there and I’ll meet you there at 1
o’clock, so wear something nice,” she said.
“Huh?”
“I put out a media alert to drum up some interest,” she said.
My head started pounding. I don’t do well at public speaking.
Put a camera in front of me and I start sweating. I began going
through options in my head. Make the kids do it…call out
sick…get in an accident on the way there.
“Suck it up,” I said to myself.
I got myself into it; I was not getting out of it.
So I went home to put on a nicer pair of shorts and even found a
shirt with a collar. I kicked off my sneakers and put on my best
pair of flip-flops. I even brushed my hair.
I remember the TV-40 crew arriving and setting me up for the
interview. The reporter asked a question, the camera started
rolling, and all of the air left the room. I think my bottom lip
started shaking, I’m pretty sure I was beginning to sweat
because my head felt like you could fry an egg on it. But I made
it through and hoped to God they would edit me out as much as
possible.
After Tim Atkins, the ice cream maker, and I made the layered
red, white and blue concoction, everyone got taste and it was
awesome. Fresh fruit in homemade ice cream. Freedom Fighter ice
cream was on sale the next day.
More importantly, Gardner was savvy enough to invite some local
veterans, and they smiled for the camera while wolfing down the
ice cream, including American Legion Post 331 veterans Matt
Lattouf (Persian Gulf, Bosnia, Panama veteran), Hank Spavena
(World War II veteran) and Al Carusi (Vietnam veteran) were on
hand for the unveiling, as was Karl Giulian, president of the
Stone Harbor Chamber of Commerce, to show his support.
All proceeds from sales of Freedom Fighter ice cream, which will
be made fresh daily, will go toward sending care packages to
local soldiers in Iraq, an effort that’s near and dear to the
hearts of the Springer’s Ice Cream family. Mary and Tim’s
brother did three tours in Iraq before a roadside bomb wounded
him and sent him back to the states, where he is now
recuperating.
Thanks to the Springer’s Ice Cream family for taking the idea
and running with it, and please take your family to their store
before they close on Labor Day. Take a gallon home with you and
let our troops know you’re thinking of them.
Springer's Homemade Ice Cream
9420 Third Avenue
Stone Harbor, NJ 08247
368-4631
Rob Seitzinger can be e-mailed
at seitz[at]catamaranmedia.com or you can comment on this story by
calling 624-8900, ext. 250.
Check out his Cape Cuisine food blog