Fresh-made Frozen Bliss from Boca’s Newest Creamery
By Kenny Spahn
For a cool and creamy delight unlike anywhere else, check out the new Whit’s Frozen Custard in Boca. For some, frozen custard evokes fond childhood memories, but it’s a brand new experience for most Floridians. Either way, it’s a rare treat in south Florida — until now. So what makes frozen custard so special? First (like any true custard), frozen custard contains real egg yolk, which lends a richer, creamier mouthfeel. Even more crucial, it incorporates far less forced air (even ‘gourmet’ ice cream contains 30 – 50% air!), resulting in more intense flavor and a silkier texture. Frozen custard is denser than soft serve “ice cream” or frozen yogurt, but softer than hard-pack ice cream – more like Italian gelato. Whit’s makes it fresh daily, right there in house. It’s made in small batches throughout the day for maximum freshness, and also minimizes waste. The machines are emptied and cleaned every night — so you’ll never get “yesterday’s leftovers” (try finding that at any ice cream or FroYo shop!). It’s a demanding and timeconsuming process (starting at 6 a.m.) — but one taste, and you’ll see why regular ice cream melts in comparison.
Co-owners Sara and Miles Weber fell in love with frozen custard the moment they first tried it. So when the opportunity to open Whit’s in Boca knocked, they answered the door with fond enthusiasm. A true family affair, Miles’ two sisters, Emily and Ivy, also help run the shop. You can sense the family warmth from the moment you walk in, with friendly servers who happily give out free samples, and seem to embrace the company slogan, “Simple. Fresh. Happy.” The shop is bright, inviting, and absolutely immaculate – including the dining area, front counter, back prep area, and restrooms (always a good sign).
Purists enjoy the simple perfection of the basic custard au natural, while others love to custom-create their own masterpiece. Start with Vanilla, Chocolate or a featured special flavor (like a wonderful Pumpkin on my visit), then add your favorites from dozens of toppings, including syrups (hot fudge, marshmallow, peanut butter), fruits (try the Bing cherry), nuts, cookies, candies; and “Bites” of brownie, cheesecake, or cookie dough. Or try one of Whit’s signature specialties, like the Buckeye Madness with Reese’s Cups, PB, and chocolate; Hawaiian Lu’au (fresh banana, pineapple, coconut, and Macadamias); Palm Beach Bliss; or Snowbird with red raspberries, hot fudge, and Macadamias (yum!). Whatever you choose, you can have the goodies placed on top for a sundae, or mixed in to create an ultra-thick “Whitser” (like a DQ Blizzard).
Made-to-order shakes, malts, floats; special sundaes (e.g., Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae); and playful Kids creations are other options. Whit’s frozen custard is naturally gluten free, and there’s even No Sugar Added and coconut milk Vegan versions. So how can you top that? With FREE whipped cream, sprinkles and a cherry! Don’t forget the Grab n’ Go cooler, with pints and quarts, frozen custard sandwiches, custard cakes, and more to go.
Whit’s Frozen Custard — The hard part is deciding, the easy part is coming back again to try another!
3551 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton
Open daily 12 p.m.-10 p.m.
Private catering and special orders available.
(561) 465-3428.
www.whitscustard.com/fl-boca-raton
Kenny Spahn is a renowned food critic, culinary columnist, and restaurant authority, and has been contributing to Simply The Best since 2004. He is also President of Restaurant Placement Group, an exclusive recruiting and consulting firm for the Restaurant and Hospitality industry.
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