No. 17 || Sundae Funday
Are you dazed & cone-fused or is it just National Ice Cream Day? I've got a menu for you so jam-packed you'll be asking, churn down for what?!
Dear Readers & Cake Eaters,
Welcome back to my themed newsletters—I’ve missed writing them so much! Hopefully this doozy of an issue will make up for how long it’s been.
For those who are new here, welcome! THIS is the type of themed newsletter that The Cakewalk is all about! (I promise you’re going to want to read it on your desktop to get full visual impact and also because the email ALWAYS cuts me short!)
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Ice Cream, you scream, we all scream (because the world is a hot fucking dumpster fire. . . but also,) for ice cream! Lolz. But really, let’s talk ice cream—the world’s great equalizer. You could be 14 months old with nothing more than some milk teeth, or 94 with . . . well, maybe no teeth. You could be a student in sweats, a CEO (cheating or otherwise, sorry I had to) in a suit, a president, a surgeon, a farmer, a retiree, it doesn’t matter, we all fucking love ice cream. And if you don’t. . .
shut up, yes you do.
Now, I love Italy for many reasons, but one of them is this: at any time of day, you can spot all walks of life enjoying some gelato. (You could argue the same of other places, but I’d argue back — it’s different in Italy.) My favorite scenario — and a surprisingly common one? A very old couple, dressed to the nines, wooden canes resting to the side, quietly enjoying their gelato, almost always served on a cornetto. Sometimes it’s just a dapper old Italian gentleman. Sometimes it’s a noodle of nonnas shamelessly nomming away (as they should). The point is: nothing quite replicates the innocence and wholesomeness of someone, anyone, enjoying their ice cream. And that’s a beautiful thing. Like, I actually think ice cream could heal society. Maybe that’s what Modern English was getting at this whole time with 80’s hit, I Melt With You.
Regardless, Happy National Ice Cream Day! I think it should really be INTERnational Ice Cream Day, but honestly there’s never a bad time or place to have ice cream. Churn down for what! Lolz.
Now really quick — San Francisco/Bay Area! I’ll be home for all of August so let’s hang/eat cake! LA, I’m coming for you too. TBA. Also head’s up, it may be crickets from me for a bit during summer break as I eat my way through California but I’ll do my best!
Now, let’s dig in!
xo Khuyen
Appetizers
À La Carte - Shopping so good, you may have to freeze your assets
Main Course - Sealtaste Ice Cream Ads & Vienetta — her name precedes her
Desserts - A campy movie to add to your list + a hint at what’s to come this upcoming week on The Cakewalk
Digestifs - Some pretty things paired with trollz & lolz, as per usual
À La Carte
1. Soft Serve Ice Cream Brooches
2. Big Ice Cream Cone Necktie
3. Vintage Drumstick Clutch by Timmy Woods
4. Vintage Frosted Ice Cream Glasses w/Scoop
5. Half-Eaten Ice Cream Coin Purse by Rommy de Bommy
6. Vintage Ice Cream Cone Brooch by JJ Jonette
7. Vintage 1950s Milk Glass Ice Cream Cups aka “Sherberts” (Set of 4)
8. Vintage Létang Rémy/Jean Couzon/Guy Degrenne Silver Coupes
9. Banana Split Purse by Rommy de Bommy
10. Vintage Frosted Green Glass Parfait Glasses (Set of 2)
11. Vintage Glass Sherbet Dessert Cups MCM (Set of 5)
12. Ice Cream Bag Charm (Leather)
13. Vintage Hoan 9 Piece Vintage Dessert Set (Plastic)
14. Vintage Baskin Robbins Scoop
15. Vintage MCM Ice Cream Salt & Pepper Shaker Set
16. Navy Blue Ice Cream Necktie
17. Vintage Ice Cream Sundae Clutch by Timmy Woods
18. Vintage Bob Mackie Ice Cream Brooch
19. Vintage Oneida Waffle Cone Plates (Set of 4)
Sundae Fundae Clutch Bag by The Cake Shoppe - a one of a kind, hand-painted leather clutch made exclusively for my shoppe! I often think about keeping it for myself, not gonna lie.
Giant Ice Cream Stool by Third Drawer Down
BUT, times are tough so if you want the dupe for 1/3 of the price, HERE
Main Course
Sealtest Ice Cream - a brand I had never heard of until flipping through vintage ice cream ads. Established in 1934/35, Sealtest was discontinued in 1999 after a few years of being acquired by Unilever and having been combined with Breyers and Good Humor. There is however, a Canadian counterpart that is still operating.
So why am I bringing up Sealtest when I’ve never heard of it before and obviously, have never tried it. . . I mean, look at their ads—the flavors (both in name and actual ingredients), the graphics, the colors! Checkerboard ice cream?! I don’t think anyone even does that anymore. Think about it, their heyday was the 1930s-1990s — some of these flavors would be exotic to people even now let alone back then. So please, let’s give a moment of silence or simply, a round of applause to Sealtest Ice Cream (ads).
Vintage Sealtest Ice Cream Ads And because the visual feast that is the collection of vintage ice cream ads by Sealtest is too extensive for me to post them all, you can read more about the former ice cream brand and check out the other nifty ads I didn’t include in this very thorough and delightful read by Jessica Cangiano of Chronically Vintage.
As for an ice cream I DO know but have somehow never once tasted?? VIENNETTA. (Note: This reference will only be good for ages Millennial and up.)
Just the name alone triggers images of fancy crystalware and silver platters as I’m sure it does for oh so many of you. Viennetta is the *fancy* ice cream. The one reserved for special occasions. A true cultural icon. Still can’t picture it? Viennetta is, as Eater aptly put it, “a layered ice cream cake that looks like the ruff of a debauched Elizabethan count.” Here’s a pretty in depth look at Viennetta through the eyes of a Dubliner if you need more deets.
Viennetta was first sold in the UK in the ’80s by British snack brand Wall’s, and made its way to the U.S. in the ’90s via Breyers. If you’re lucky enough to have tasted it, I’m curious as to what your thoughts are. Now PLEASE watch the below commercial to understand everything I’ve been talking about, if you didn’t already.The lore of Viennetta is probably 80% marketing but you can also note that it was maybe double the price of other supermarket ice creams at the time. While Viennetta goes on to exist in the UK (although I’m unsure as to how much the recipe has changed), it was discontinued in the US towards the end of the 90s and recently brought back in 2021 as we live in an age that pines for nostalgia. Just a note for those itching to go out and try the one currently on shelves — apparently this one just isn’t the same. What used to be marketed as “ice cream” is now a “dairy dessert” and so you can imagine that costs have been cut and quality has gone down. BUT, never fear, has a recipe of her DIY version of the Viennetta here if you’re feeling so inclined!
(Above) Not Viennetta but still Breyers — these 90s ads are just too good
Desserts
Ice Cream Man (1995) is about as camp as you can get. I have to say, I think that one of my favorite things about these themed newsletters is that almost always, when I google whatever the theme is + “movie”, I’ll find something fucking absurd. We’re learning together my friends. Maybe a Cakewalk Cinema Club is in order where we just watch these campiest and craziest of food-themed movies that are almost always of the horror variety.
Does this still from the movie whet your appetite yet? I’m squeamish so I’m still debating on whether or not I’ll be watching this today but if YOU do, I better hear from you.
And fear not, because as most crazy low budget campy movies go, when there’s one, there’s always a sequel, or four. “Sundae Bloody Sundae” though?!? So good, I’m (ice) screaming!
photo by Harel + Ocante — no significance here, just an aesthetically pleasing visual placeholder, lolz
LASTLY (for this section anyways, lolz), I will be unveiling yet another series for The Cakewalk that I’ve been promising for so long now — my International City Guides. I will unveil the series name and the first edition this upcoming week. I originally was going to include it as part of this newsletter as spoiler alert: it’s an ice cream guide! But it’s so fucking long already, even for me, lolz. So stay tuned, folks!
Digestifs
If you want the gorgeous book in which these photos came from — La Grotta Ices by Kitty Travers, you can get it HERE. It’s currently sitting in my cart.
Tomato Soup Soft Serve, anyone? Also, ~it’s a video so be sure to click~
Toys back then were all about kids being able to make their favorite treats. . . I’ve NEVER heard of the Barbie Ice Cream Maker. Please holler in comments if you have. On another note, PLZ bring back Easy Bake Ovens!!!
Another unhinged video alert ^^ be sure to click above for ranch ice cream, lolz
The Cakewalk may earn some $$$ if you make a purchase through one of the links above.
My next issue is already cooking but if you’d like to split the calorie intake, please share with friends! Instagram: @thecakewalk.club
This post is glorious! And Sealtest ice cream took me right back to childhood! 🍨 ps I didn’t know it was ice cream day, I coincidentally made marshmallow ice cream in my post today! ❤️
Those Sealtest ads are amazing