Try this tasty treat in Old Town
Last month, I overlooked an important date–August 25–or, in other words, National Banana Split Day. But, really, who needs a special day to honor this delicious treat? Most ice cream parlors I know serve them whenever you want, and that would include a special little place in Old Town Scottsdale (located in the Valley of the Sun, otherwise known as Metro Phoenix) called the Sugar Bowl.
Owned by the Huntress Family, the Sugar Bowl has been serving ice cream, including its famous Banana Split, since opening day on December 24, 1958.
The shop has been featured many times in the nationally syndicated cartoon strip, “Family Circus,” created by Bil Keane. The cartoon artist, who lives in nearby Paradise Valley, is a fan. You can see original drawings from the cartoon s
trip, framed and signed by Keane, on the walls and inside the menu at the ice cream parlor located on Scottsdale Road.
This past week, I visited the Sugar Bowl while on a shopping feature assignment with Voyageur magazine, the award-winning publication for Carlson Hotels Worldwide. After my work was done, I slipped inside the ice cream parlor to enjoy the one item on the menu I always order there–the popular Sugar Bowl Treat Banana Split. Like I said, who needs a special day for this. Any day is a good day for ice cream in my world.
This one’s made pretty much the way you’d think a banana split would be made–in a bowl, with the banana split down the middle and separated, vanilla and ice cream in between, strawberry and pineapple sauce poured over the ice cream, then the whole sweet treat topped out with whipped cream and a cherry. It tastes as good as it sounds. The best part is the mix of both vanilla AND chocolate ice cream. But not just any chocolate. It’s Dutch chocolate, and extra smooth. I love it!
I know fall is just around the corner, but it’s still pretty warm here in Arizona. Next time you’re in Scottsdale, especially if it’s real soon, stop in at the Sugar Bowl and tell the waitress you’ll have whatever’s popular. My guess is you’ll have what I had:
What: Sugar Bowl Treat Banana Split, $5.75 (not including tax and tip)
Where: Sugar Bowl
Address: 4005 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale
Phone: 480-946-0051
Web site: http://www.sugarbowlscottsdale.com
(Photo above by Jackie Dishner.)
2 Comments
National Banana Split Day…who knew!? Definitely a stop I have overlooked in Scottsdale and a date that I’ll have to put on my calendar!
Thanks, Jackie!
Mimi,
It’s also a side stop on the Scottsdale Historic Walking Tour. If you stop in at the Little Red School House, AKA the Scottsdale Historical Society, in Old Town, you can pick up a map of the self-guided tour. It’ about four-block walk and is worth an hour or two on a Sunday afternoon.
You’ll learn a bit about Scottsdale’s history, get a chance to see some of the original olive trees planted by Winfield Scott himself (the founding father), and have time to grab a beer at the Rusty Spur Saloon, a taco or margarita at Los Olivos Mexican food restaurant, and then have that banana split at Sugar Bowl. In between, there’s shopping for all things Scottsdale–turquoise jewelry, Mexican folk art, a cowboy hat, and more.
Thanks for stopping in.
Jackie