It’s National Ice Cream Month: Hotels Offering Cool Treats

President Ronald Reagan dedicated National Ice Cream month in 1984. It’s not like we need an excuse to eat dessert, but, as excuses go, this one is pretty darn good. So grab a spoon and dig in – these great hotels across the country offer up sweet treats ranging from childhood favorites to adults-only concoctions.

Spaghetti al Pomodoro Gelato and a Chocolate Avocado Corn Ice Cream Taco at Four Seasons Hotels
Four Seasons hotels have gotten into the sweet stuff with a passion. A number of hotels are offering special ice cream treats this summer, including the Four Seasons St. Louis, which has a special “spaghetti” gelato, a sweet play on the savory dish made with house-made vanilla gelato pressed through a potato ricer [made to look like pasta], topped with mixed berry sauce, mint and shaved white chocolate. Four Seasons Austin gives a nod to their Tex-Mex roots with “taco” ice cream made with a taco-shaped, house-made vanilla wafer with the creaminess of milk chocolate ice cream. The chef’s milk chocolate ice cream is made with avocado and ancho chile powder for that extra kick, then scooped into individual taco shells and garnished with sliced ancho chiles, creamy avocado and bits of corn and caramel corn.

Spiked Milkshakes at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
The hotel’s Boulevard Pool Deck makes hot summer days a bit more enjoyable with alcohol-infused ice cream sundaes, spiked milkshakes and adult popsicles created by The Cosmopolitan’s resident mixologist. Sundaes include a “Breakfast of Champions” made from Pink Squirrel Ice Cream, topped with Framboise and Cap’n Crunch Crunchberries, and “The Grass is Always Greener,” a mix of Grasshopper Ice Cream with Van Gogh Dutch Caramel Vodka, Salted Caramel Sauce and Thin Mint Cookies.

All You Can Eat Ice Cream at Hotel Triton
You can get a sundae anywhere, but what about an entire ice cream suite? The Hotel Triton in San Francisco has a special Ice Cream Suite in their 140-room boutique hotel. The Haagen-Dazs “Sweet Suite” is decorated in colors reminiscent of Vanilla and Caramel and has “flavorful” details like ice cream scented candles. The best part? A “Sweet Spot” in the room – a freezer filled with the brand’s ice cream and ice cream bars, plus bowls, scoops and spoons to enjoy the treats. An overnight comes with an unlimited supply.

Bacon Ice Cream and More at Omni Hotels
The family-friendly brand has launched a special “Art of Water” menu, available now through Labor Day, which features specialty cocktails and treats to keep cold. The most creative addition to the menu is a bacon ice cream sandwich, which features a brown buttered, candied bacon ice cream with chocolate chips, in addition to flavors like chocolate chip and plain ol’ vanilla. The menu is available through Labor Day, so you have an extra month to enjoy these treats.

“A Connecticut Hog Dog Tour” documentary airs July 2, kicks off National Hot Dog Month

There’s a month for everything in America, it seems, even if it’s cancer. But as a nation, we can really get behind hot dogs. We love hot dogs; we’re obsessed with them. That’s why the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (for reals) has declared July National Hot Dog Month. Who knew?

Such obsession with pre-formed meat products can only lead to one thing: a search for the ultimate weiner. Filmmaker Mark Kotlinski took on the challenge and discovered that Connecticut is a veritable hot dog paradise. In his film, “A Connecticut Hot Dog Tour,” Kotlinski documents his road trip to some of Connecticut’s most interesting–and delicious–hot dog stands.

Whether steamed, grilled, or deep-fried, Connecticut’s got ‘dogs for days. Highlighting the history, house specialties, and local hot dog lore, “A Connecticut Hot Dog Tour” is Kotlinski’s tribute to an American favorite. In the film, he visits renown Connecticut hot dogs stands including:

Rawley’s Drive-In (Fairfield), for their famous bacon dog with “The Works”; Weiners on Water (East Haddam), a hot dog boat on the Connecticut River featuring chili cheese dogs with a view; Bobby’s Place (Old Lyme), located on the beach, for their monster dog; Capitol Lunch (New Britain) for a hot dog with the works and their famous meat sauce, and Top Dog Hot Dog (Portland), a hot dog-shaped trailer located on Route 66, to sample their spicy Cajun Dog.

Inspired by Kotlinski’s findings and in time for National Hot Dog Month, Connecticut will debut it’s very own, official Hot Dog Trail that maps out these hot dog hot spots (the state is already home to a Wine Trail, Ice Cream Trail, and Beer Trail…and hey–why is there no pizza trail leading to Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana in New Haven?). For Trails and tourism info, click here.

“A Connecticut Hot Dog Tour” will air on July 2, 8 p.m. ET/PT on the Documentary Channel (DOC).

[Photo credit: Flickr user Scout]