The ice cream potato is a unique dessert of ice cream resembling a loaded baked potato.[1][2] The dish does not contain any potato.[3] Lou Aaron, of Westside Drive In in Boise, Idaho, created the dish.[3] It can be found there year-round and various fairs and outdoor events seasonally.[1][4] It is difficult to acquire outside of Idaho.[4]

Ice cream potato
Ice cream potato from Westside Drive In
TypeIce cream
CourseDessert
Place of originUnited States
Region or stateIdaho
Main ingredientsIce cream, cocoa

The dish is an acknowledgement of the importance of the potato in Idaho's culture, as it is also the state vegetable.[5]

The creator, Lou Aaron, reportedly spent 40 years perfecting the recipe.[5][6] It is estimated Westside Drive In sells over 1,000 a month and 10,000 in nine days at the Western Idaho Fair.[5][6]

Vanilla ice cream is molded into a potato shape and coated with cocoa powder to mimic brown skin.[1] The ice cream potato is then topped with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and chocolate syrup.[1] Some vendors offer variations with yellow frosting as "butter" and green sprinkles as "chives."[1]

It can also be found prepackaged in convenience stores.[5]

The Westside Drive-In and its ice cream potato were featured on a Boise-focused episode of the Travel Channel's Man v. Food in 2018.[7]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e "The Potato-Shaped Sundae of Boise, Idaho". Atlas Obscura. May 14, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  2. ^ "Westside Drive-In Is The Birthplace Of Idaho's Most Iconic Dessert, The Ice Cream Potato". OnlyInYourState®. March 26, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Buiano, Madeline (July 1, 2020). "Westside Drive-In Idaho Ice Cream Potato". The Daily Meal. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Michael, Grace (December 1, 2021). "Obviously a Popular Dessert in Idaho Is an Ice Cream Potato". Spoon University. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d Hoeller, Sophie-Claire (February 24, 2020). "I tried Idaho's famous 'Ice Cream Potato' topped with whipped cream and chocolate 'dirt,' and it was delicious". Insider. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Bromann, Valerie (August 31, 2019). "Ice Cream Potato at Westside Drive In in Boise, Idaho". Silly America. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  7. ^ EVERY BOISE RESTAURANT THAT APPEARED ON MAN V. FOOD