So when National Geographic named the Top 10 places in the world to eat ice cream, Vaffelbageriet…read moreactually ranked #9. I didn't realize I was patronizing the ninth best ice cream parlor in the world when I took a sweet-tooth respite during my leisurely evening stroll in the world-famous Tivoli Gardens last September. In fact, I didn't know the place had a name, but I just saw a herd of toddlers with over-sized cones and followed the drip marks on the pavement. Those led me to a very festive-looking pavilion with a welcoming counter chock full of sweet treats not the least of which was ice cream.
Apparently, the name of the place is Danish for ice cream served in large waffle cones, which no surprise, is their house specialty. Their most popular item is the Amerikaner, a decadent-looking mountain of ice cream in a waffle cone, four scoops worth ladled with some syrupy, only-in-Europe topping, dollops of whipped cream, and a chocolate-covered meringue puff rather than the expected maraschino cherry. It doesn't look like anything I've seen in the states, but it's called the Amerikaner because it's the picture of unhealthy excess, I'm guessing. What a reputation we have across the pond.
I refuse to live down to my stereotype and went for a good old-fashioned vanilla soft-serve waffle cone covered in chocolate sprinkles, large of course (see photo). Sure, it was still decadent but at 30 DKK (Danish krone) or $5.32, it was a relative bargain. And frankly, it was one of the creamiest cones I've ever had, which of course, means it's still sitting in my thighs all these months later. No matter since it hit the spot, and for Pete's sake, or I guess I should say for Per's sake, it was Tivoli, and you're supposed to have carnival food. So stop judging me. Anyway, I don't know if Vaffelbageriet is truly the ninth best ice cream in the world, but who's complaining?
ICE CREAM - 4 stars...creamy excess that may give you a diabetic coma
AMBIANCE - 4 stars...cute spot with plenty of seats if you need recovery time from the Star Flyer
SERVICE - 4 stars...very friendly servers keep you in a good mood here
TOTAL - 4 stars...big globs of ice cream in a warm, freshly baked waffle cone in the middle of Tivoli Gardens...I can dig it