When heiress and influencer Nicky Hilton Rothschild tasted a Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwich in the Hamptons, N.Y., and Instagram messaged the Richmond-based company saying she loved it, the owners were excited.
She mentioned that she’d love to learn more about the brand and conversations continued over the next few months, until they decided to launch a flavor collaboration.
“We’re really excited that it came about naturally,” said Erica Jacobs, director of marketing for Nightingale.
During conversations about flavor ideas, Hilton Rothschild mentioned loving honeycomb ice cream, which is popular in England where her husband grew up, but less common in the United States. The Nightingale team whipped up a few different ice cream sandwich versions based on the honeycomb idea and sent them off to Hilton Rothschild for tasting.
The winning version features rich vanilla ice cream swirled with honeycomb candy in a Golden Graham cookie sandwich. It’s called Nicky’s Blondie and can be found on the gourmet online food marketplace Goldbelly now.
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Starting in June it will be at The Fresh Market as well. A portion of the proceeds are being donated to God’s Love We Deliver, a nonprofit that delivers nutritious, medically tailored meals for people too sick to shop or cook for themselves.
Speaking of The Fresh Market, the stores began carrying six Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwich flavors earlier this spring. In addition, about 200 Mid-Atlantic Walmarts now carry three flavors of the brand’s smaller-size Chomp 4-pack ice cream sandwich boxes.
In Richmond, Nightingale continues to release monthly limited-edition flavors: May’s flavor is Lavender Earl Grey and June is Banana Split. The sandwiches are all manufactured in Nightingale’s space at Hatch in Manchester, where the team of 40 employees produce around 70,000 sandwiches per week.
PHOTOS: 9 of our favorite frozen boozy drinks to try around RVA
Soft-serve hard cider at Buskey Cider
The flavor of Buskey’s dairy-free concoction changes every two weeks, so if something sounds good, hurry in to get it. To make the treat that is pulled to order just like soft-service ice cream, Buskey’s hard cider is blended with various flavors — right now it’s kiwi passionfruit. Get yours in a cup or on a cone in the Scott’s Addition tasting room. 2910 W. Leigh St. www.buskeycider.com
Frosé at Blue Bee Cider
Blue Bee Cider, also in Scott’s Addition, offers a cider-based frosé in rotating flavors. Look for fresh flavors like blackberry ginger and Mill Race Bramble frosé made from a cider infused with raspberries and blackberries, and peach frosé as the summer heats up. 1320 Summit Ave. www.bluebeecider.com
Frozen boozie pops at Tang & Biscuit
Choose the Red Pop or the Blue Pop for a grown-up take on a classic at Tang & Biscuit in Scott’s Addition. Both feature Dr. Stoner’s Island Bush Rum that’s infused with smoky Caribbean herbs, giving both pops an earthy undertone. Red pulls in watermelon, watermelon Red Bull and lime juice, and blue features Malibu, Coco-Berry Red Bull and lime juice. Both pops pack a definite liquor punch. 3406 W. Moore. St. https://tangandbiscuit.com
Pandan Painkiller at The Jungle Room
You might think of frozen tiki drinks as sweet, but the Frozen Pandan Pain Killer at The Jungle Room in the Museum District is boozy and balanced. House-made Pandan coconut cream blended with Lemon Hart Original 1804 Rum, pineapple and orange juice goes down dangerously easily. 2727 W. Broad St. www.thejungleroomrva.com
Frozen negroni at Laura Lee's
The selections at Laura Lee’s in Forest Hill change regularly, but you can pretty much assume they’ll be delicious. Whether it’s a frozen sangria featuring tropical fruit and white wine, a Painkiller, or The Undercurrent with rum, burnt apricot honey, pineapple, coconut and citrus, you’re in good hands. 3410 Semmes Ave. https://lauraleesrva.com
Soft-serve margarita at Barrio
The first boozy ice-cream style beverage to take Richmond by storm comes from Barrio in the Fan District. Barrio’s soft-serve margaritas are served swirled high in a coop glass, making them one of the most Instagrammable libations on this list. Choose from lime, a rotating sorbet of the day, or a twist of both. Of course, all flavors are blended with tequila. 2229 W. Main St. https://barriorva.com
The Cantario Conejo at Conejo
The Cantarito is Conejo's spin on the traditional Mexican Cantarito cocktail and features a dangerously drinkable combination of blanco tequila, grapefruit, orange, lime and a tangy guava twist that keeps you going back for one more sip. Another frozen option, The Coco Loco features mezcal, Fernet Branca Menta, coconut, pineapple, lime and cinnamon. 5820 Patterson Ave, Suite 103. https://conejococina.com
Frozen drinks at Saison Market
One of the first spots in Richmond to make serious non-syrupy-sweet takes on frozen drinks, Saison Market in Jackson Ward is famous for its frozen negronis, piña coladas and daiquiris made with high-quality ingredients. See what they’re serving, and snag a patio seat on the next sunny day. 323 N. Adams St. www.saisonrva.com/saison-market
Cosmic Love at Little Nickel
The Cosmic Love at Little Nickel combines vodka, Cointreau, orange blossom water, cranberry, champagne and lime for a sophisticated take on classic Cosmopolitan flavors. You can also choose to add a float of Campari, poblano tequila or Crème de Violette to amp it up even more. 4702 Forest Hill Ave. https://littlenickel.co
Megan Marconyak has been devouring every fresh flavor she can find and capturing it in writing for more than 15 years. Drool along with her dining adventures and send her your #RVADine tips on Instagram @MeganMarcoStyle.
