6 days Ago By GANNON HANEVOLD [email protected]
Writing a "best thing I ate this week" column about Whitey's Ice Cream felt like a rite of passage after starting this series. The local ice cream chain has become a permanent part of my lexicon since moving to the Quad-Cities. Sometimes it's not even spoken.
After dinner on any given weekday, I might turn to my girlfriend and give her a look, my eyebrows high and my pupils darting up the road toward the nearest Whitey's location. Quad-City Times Reporter Gannon Hanevold "So, Whitey's?" I'll ask, if she's not picking up the hint. "Well, now that you mention it," she'll answer.
So featuring it in this column has been a long time coming. The hard part has been figuring out the timing. And I know what you're thinking: Why now? Why wait until the air is crisp and the snowy days are peeking around the corner? Isn't that a bad time for a frozen treat? To that, I say: No.
Because the best Whitey's shake comes around this time of year, reappearing to wreak havoc on my sweet tooth like that little devil in the "Jeeper's Creepers" movies. It's the right time of year for a Pumpkin Pie Shake. The Pumpkin Pie Shake is made with pumpkin pie filling and Graham Central Station ice cream, then topped with whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon.
It might be the best shake I've ever had. Reporter Sarah Watson called it "life changing." The pumpkin pie shake is a seasonal specialty at Whitey's Ice Cream.
Copycat ice cream flavors are often tough to pull off. The parallels aren't always perfect. But this, truly, tastes like a slice of pumpkin pie.
The graham cracker notes bring out the feeling of eating real pie crust. The pumpkin pie filling being blended into the shake makes it taste a whole lot more natural than a pumpkin syrup you might find in a latte. Even the whipped cream makes things feel more organic, because no slice of pie is complete without a dollop.
The one thing I might add? Some sort of topping for some added crunch. On a recent visit, I added Oreo to my pumpkin shake to give it a sort of pumpkin chocolate chip cookie feeling. That was great, too, but maybe a step too far.
As you might expect, the shake is extremely sweet as is. So proceed with caution, and an empty stomach. I ordered a medium shake for $9.
10, which is admittedly on the high end for dessert. But this is a meal on its own. The pumpkin pie shake is a seasonal specialty at Whitey's Ice Cream.
The toughest task is finishing the whole meal, but a small is only $0.40 cheaper, so it's not a bad upcharge. The best move? Take a date to Whitey's and split a medium.
Frugal chivalry is not dead. As a local chain, you can find a Whitey's location just about anywhere in the Quad-Cities. There are spots in Davenport, Moline, East Moline, Bettendorf, Rock Island and Eldridge.
I recommend looking up hours for your local spot to make sure you're there before closing time. Ava Brinkman hands a customer their order at Whitey's Ice Cream, Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Moline. Unless you stop in during the day on a weekday, you're likely to encounter a bit of a line.
Whitey's is beloved enough to amass a crowd at all hours. If you don't want to step out into the cold, the Whitey's drive-thru window is always a fair option. But I will say: the lines are typically shorter inside.
And once you try this seasonal shake, you'll be impatient enough to take a walk in the cold. As a Q-C transplant, I sing the praises of Whitey's to any family member who visits from out of town. It's one of the area's greatest exports, right there next to "A Quiet Place" and Quad-Cities-style pizza.
It helps that a visit to Whitey's always feels special. The aesthetics are consistent, no matter which location you're at: the collared shirts, the crew necks, the analog cash registers, all of the above. In this 2023 file photo, Juan Lopez and Harrison Dehnert scoop ice cream at Whitey's Ice Cream in Moline.
Despite being a chain, every Whitey's location feels like a hole-in-the-wall corner creamery. Ice cream just tastes better when it doesn't taste corporate. Service is always friendly, and I'm always pleased by the range of people that come through.
Families, couples young and old, big groups of friends — I've never seen the same archetype twice in the Whitey's walk-in area. It is worth noting, for anyone who hasn't been before, that dining in is not an option. It's especially impossible during peak busy hours.
However, you can, at all the Whitey's locations I've tried, sit at one of their picnic tables outside. Though I suppose with the weather that is only possible for a little while longer. Get in there before the pumpkin pie shake is gone and your will to brave the cold is, too.
These pumpkin and cinnamon treats have a satisfying crunch that will keep your dog begging for more. The spooky shapes make these treats perfect for rewarding your dog for not barking at trick-or-treaters. With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food.
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