Random Frozen Plug, For Bees

My favorite ice cream of all time was a Haagen-Dazs flavor called "Honey Vanilla," which was criminally inexplicably discontinued several years ago. There have been a few other worthy contenders to the throne, notably Baskin-Robbins Chocolate Chip, Ben & Jerry's HEATH Bar Crunch, even plain old Haagen-Dazs Vanilla was serviceable enough, but nothing really came close to the subtle perfection of the Honey Vanilla I remembered from my youth.

A few months ago I became aware of a new Haagen-Dazs creation, in their "reserve" line, called Hawaiian Lehua Honey & Sweet Cream Ice Cream. I made a point of finding and buying a pint, only to be thoroughly disappointed by a product that was, in my opinion, far too rich, and marred by slightly sickening golden swirls of bland sweetness running through the vanilla base. I guess that was the prized "Hawaiian Lehua Honey," oh well. Manufacturer and key ingredient aside, it wasn't close to what I was looking for.

More recently, I was doing a little late-night rummage through our freezer and found a surprise Gwen had left there waiting for me, a pint of this. I got a spoon, opened it up and was immediately transported back in time, back 20 or 30 years, to that same amazing and singular experience. Perfectly integrated clean and delicately well-balanced flavors, a lingering honey finish, and without the over-the-top assault of the flawed "reserve" version. It was phenomenal. Haagen-Dazs Honey Vanilla is back. They're calling the new incarnation "Vanilla Honey Bee," but they could call it toasted asphalt and wouldn't have any problem with me, as long as it tasted like this.


I'm mentioning this now because, if the company's Web site is to be believed, Vanilla Honey Bee is a "limited edition" flavor that will only be available through December. If you are even slightly predisposed to vanilla or honey, do yourself a favor and don't miss it this time around. We're doing our part here to boost sales to the point that they'd be crazy to stop making the stuff, but we can use all the help we can get.

The return of this epic flavor also seems to be part of a broader initiative that Haagen-Dazs has undertaken to raise awareness of the increasingly dire plight of the world's honey bees, and the potentially devastating effects associated with their mysterious decline. They've put up a pretty amazing site with more information on the situation. It's no Bee Movie - which our whole family loved, by the way (good job, Jerry) - but is well worth a visit.

So go out and buy a pint of Haagen-Dazs Vanilla Honey Bee, I'm willing to bet it won't be your last. You might even save a bee, and the best ice cream in the history of the planet.