No. 71: Try Nitro Ice Cream

In our weekly countdown we are going downtown to find, as their slogan says, "The Coldest Place on Earth."

As you walk into the purple place known as Nitro and see smoke don't run next door to the firehouse for help - what you are seeing is liquid nitrogen at minus 320 degrees Fahrenheit poured into industrial standing mixers. Within about two to three minutes, what was once the liquid ingredients to make ice cream or yogurt, magically appears as a super fresh cold custom creation. And yes, it's safe to eat. 

Be forewarned, this parlor, located near the train station, is not a scoop shop, so if you want a quick ice-cream fix this is not the place for you. Every flavor is made to order and churned incorporating these liquid vapors so within a few patient minutes your order is ready to eat. Your ice "cream" will come out just like that - creamy, not hard. 

There are lots of flavors and hundreds of combinations to choose from, yet for just $1 extra you can have unlimited toppings which are just as interesting as the flavors. For example, there is cotton candy flakes, Lucky Charm style marshmallows, lemon chips, candy coated sunflower seeds, freeze-dried bananas, and more.

Would you dare try ketchup with fries ice cream? Or how about bacon and eggs, dirt, or cucumber? One of their most popular flavors-of-the-minute is Lady GaGa; pink strawberry ice cream with pearl dragées.  There is even a flavor with a kick-wasabi. Coming soon: a blueberry and marshmallow medley called Smurf. 

If you are wondering where all these unique flavorings come from, owner Sean Pomper, along with famous chef, David Burke, co-created a completely natural extracts business called Flavor Spray. But if you want to throw in Ring-Dings, Devil Dogs, or an esoteric ingredient you brought from home, go for it, they are open to any concoction you can possibly think of.

Looking for an original birthday party idea?  Nitro will close the shop for private parties, teach the children all about nitrogen, do a demo, and after they paint their cone (with food safe dye) and have a slice pizza, each child will get to taste the flavor they ordered placed on top of their artfully designed cone.

So, even if ice cream or frozen yogurt may not be your favorite just dessert, come by anyway to watch this experience unfold.

Address: 15 Jackson Avenue, Syosset

Phone: 516-802-0427