big gay ice cream truck + bourdain, squared

I like two-fers – two things on a list. Check. Check!  I’ve been following the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck via Twitter as they make their way all around the city. Similar to my attempted approach to Mister Softie (an ever-present tempting evil!), I try to forget they exist – otherwise warm summer days turn into ice cream puddles in my hands of demolished desserts.

When I learned Anthony Bourdain’s wife would be serving up cones from their truck yesterday two hours before her husband’s book signing, I had to swing by. I’ve been following the banter between her (@OttaviaBourdain) and him (@NoReservations) since she started her account. Love it! And she did not disappoint – very much true to her feisty Twitter persona. She sang and danced, inducing a strobe-like effect occasionally in the truck.

I spy... a bonus Bourdain!

And he made a surprise appearance, standing relatively quietly in the front – taking tips, making change, and occasionally heckling his wife. Oh and posing for photos. All tips were going to Doctor’s Without Borders, and Tony was matching all tips and proceeds from the day to go to the cause as well. I’d seen Bourdain back on his tour promotion the intitial hardback version of his book “Medium Raw”. With the spotlight on him for that event, he seemed resigned to take the stage – but yesterday it was clear he was letting his wife be front and center.

So many tips...A shot with the Family Bourdain (minus their daughter)

In hindsight, I probably should have given my tip before this photo. Perhaps that would have gotten Tony to smile – ha. Jose, who was kindly taking the photograph, did wait until Ottavia stopped sticking her tongue out for this photo!

 

Yosh and I, posing with our fabulous ice cream. Shhhh - don't tell.

 

I ran into my sweet friend Yosh while waiting in line, who told me that I wasn’t allowed to buy my first ever ice cream at the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck. What a sweetheart. We both had “The Mermaid” – which was key lime curd, graham crackers, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. Oh and delicious.

 

The Mermaid - mostly sweet, just ever so slightly tart

 

Perfect way to spend the nicest afternoon we’ve had in a while!

 

Anyone else swing by? If there are any Big Gay Ice Cream Truck afficionados out there, what is your favorite on their menu?

nyc fall food line-up

I have seen so many posts as of late about local restaurants beginning to roll out their seasonal offerings. Reluctanly, I’ll give a hip-hip-hooray for Fall! Here’s some of the fabulous things the city has to look forward to:

• Pumpkin Trifle Pudding at Sugar Sweet Sunshine
• Thanksgiving Sundae at the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck
• Shacktoberfest at Shake Shack (begins October 2nd)