by Bea Peterson
The Ice Kreme Kafé on Main Street in Hoosick Falls, near the tennis courts, is open for the season. Actually, they have been open for a month. Brian Harwood laughed and said, “Yeah, it was two degrees out the day we opened.” He and his wife Elaine have leased the Kafé for the season. Brian left the construction business to work in the Kafé. “Now I make ice cream and maintain the machines,” he said. Elaine said the LaPortes started the Kafé 20 years ago this year. “We think that is kind of neat,” she said. Brian said the ice cream making recipes he is using are the LaPorte recipes.
[private]More Than Ice Cream
The Harwoods have expanded the menu to include sandwiches, salads and baked potatoes, hot dogs and nachos with a topping bar that offers broccoli, lettuce, cheese, sour cream, bacon and more. Homemade chili and mac and cheese are also on the menu.
Of course they offer the Kafé standards of sundaes, hard and soft ice creams and a variety of drinks, including slushies and smoothies and the popular ice cream doggie treats. They will take orders for ice cream cakes, too.
“We’re not taking away anything,” said Elaine. They are adding Philadelphia Italian Water Ice, lactose free ice cream and “tons of gluten free options.” Elaine is excited about the new salty caramel and crushed pretzel toppings they will soon be offering.
The couple said their daughter Jacelyn has been a big help with getting the business going. The couple laughed and said their son just prefers to eat.
“We’ve tried to keep the prices affordable,” said Elaine. “We’re trying to offer foods for kids and for families. They can eat here or take out.”
They are pleased to keep the Kafé a local family business and to keep the business going.
The Kafé is open from early afternoon until 8 pm every day. “In the summer we’ll be open longer,” said Elaine.[/private]