Jersey Chronicles - Part II: Kohr Bros. Frozen Custard

Among the bevy of foods that can attribute their unwavering popularity to the dog days of summer, frozen treats may be the most ubiquitous of all. Between Choco Taco’s off the beach-side ice cream truck at high noon, and giant ice cream sodas with the family after dinner, summers at the shore saw me inhale my fair share of all things cold and sweet.

These days I work hard to steer clear of the figure-flubbing dangers of ice cream and the like, yet ravenous cravings continue to get the better of me during the aestival eating frenzy that starts with the patriotic ring of Memorial Day and ends with the grueling heat of Labor Day. But why? What is it about the crisp salt-air on a chilled summer’s night that makes a heaping blob of frozen cream and sugar so good?

Of course as much as I enjoy the the ice cream sodas, milk shakes, and bulbous Belgian waffles that defined my dessert-eating days at the Shore, my favorite of them all has, and always will be, the frozen custard at Kohr Bros. First introduced to the public on the Coney Island boards in 1919, this silky, creamy wondrous frozen phenomenon has been available up and down the Jersey Shore for as long as I can remember - as far as north as Point Pleasant, and as far south as Cape May.

Being that its made with the inclusion of eggs, Kohr’s product is technically a custard, making it smoother, creamier, and less icy than your typical hard (or even soft) ice cream, making for a much more tart experience on the tongue than the sugar-blast of regular ice cream. The most popular flavor, which happens to be my favorite, is the classic Creamsicle – a towering, teetering twist of vanilla and orange custard – sitting on a seemingly unsteady wafer cone that never fails to add those last few crunchy bites of satisfaction. (see below).

Nowadays, Kohr Bros. has expanded to 10 states, mostly in the East, but as far as I'm concerned, this refreshing treat will forever signify the boards of the Jersey Shore, and the lack of self-discipline they so outwardly encourage.

The Shore is an infectious place, where New Year's resolutions are crushed and self-control is duly tested. Even so, my annual dose of Kohr Bros. Creamsicle is as much a reminder of what I should be doing as it is what I shouldn't. Especially when Midway Steak House is 100 yards away.

Kohr Bros.