Jared Palladino, owner of Meletharb on Lowell Street, said his ice cream shop won Best in New England for his baklava ice cream. Little wonder. This flavor wins hands down for its creaminess, sweet taste and chunks of honey-laden baklava. (Gail Lowe Photo)
Published in the July 24, 2015 edition
By GAIL LOWE
WAKEFIELD — Remember grandma’s ginger snaps and molasses cookies? For some people, these all-time favorites might be nothing more than a distant memory. Others might be continuing the tradition by baking their own batches.
Jared Palladino, owner of Meletharb on Lowell Street, has taken the creative route by adding to his list of hard ice cream flavors “ginger snap molasses,” and a visitor to his shop this week declared it “out of this world delicious!”
The Meletharb visitor also spotted two other unique ice cream flavors — almond biscottii and baklava, especially the latter. But both received high marks.
In fact, Palladino said his baklava ice cream won Best in New England in last year’s ice cream competition.
In spite of his exotic flavors, Palladino said he also offers more traditional flavors, starting with vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, because they’re the preference of people who live in the area.
“The closer you get to Boston and Cambridge the more likely you are to find ice cream flavors like ‘beer’ and ‘bacon,’” he said.
Palladino’s ice cream shop is a family-owned business that draws people from all around, from residents as close to home as the Four Corners to those who live as far north as Lowell. His reputation for serving wonderful ice cream is that far and wide.
Homemade ice cream does not come cheap but for aficionados the price is well worth every single lick. At Meletharb’s, the ice cream is not only creamy, the flavors are rich and if they contain fruits like strawberries or cookies, you can count on an ice cream that comes loaded.
A kiddie cone is $3.20, a small cone $4.80, medium $6.40 and a large $8. Toppings include Junior Mints, assorted Gummy candies, Oreo cookies, M&Ms and toasted almonds.
For a special occasion such as a birthday or bridal shower, think about departing from tradition and order an ice cream cake at Meletharb’s in a flavor of your choice. The center can be filled with fudge or Oreo cookies.
An eight inch cake costs $35, 10 inch $45.
Come fall and winter, Palladino’s ice cream menu will take on a seasonal tone and will include flavors like spiced apple, pumpkin and apple crisp. Around the holidays watch for peppermint bark, cinnamon and egg nog.
“We use the finest ingredient possible and I’m always on the lookout for something new,” Palladino said about his family-owned business. “It’s what makes our ice cream great.”
