Where to get an egg cream?
Lissa emails:
Do you or your readers know any place in the Capital Region to get a real old fashioned egg cream? I have a co-worker with a birthday coming up and I'd love to treat her. She grew up with Brooklyn egg creams.
For those who have yet to enjoy an egg cream, it's a drink made from chocolate syrup, milk, and seltzer water. (Yeah, it sounds a little weird, but it works. And there's no egg in it.)
We've had egg creams at Emack & Bolio's in Albany -- the "Albany Egg Cream" -- and they're pretty good there. We suspect there are other places you can get them, too.
Got an egg cream suggestion for Lissa and her friend? Please share!
photo: Jason Perlow via Wikipedia
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Comments
and it really does not work if you use bottled or canned seltzer...it needs to come from a syphon to really achieve the correct foamy head...
... said llcwine on Jun 26, 2012 at 1:32 PM | link
Get some Battenkill Valley Creamery's chocolate milk and one can of Polar plain seltzer. Mix.
Another kick - if you need sugar - and it's actually very good - substitute the plain seltzer with a can of Pepsi. Don't groan until you have tried it !
... said spiritoflife on Jun 26, 2012 at 3:28 PM | link
P.S. The foaming head is easily achieved by pouring the seltzer/Pepsi about a foot above the glass of chocolate milk.
... said spiritoflife on Jun 26, 2012 at 3:31 PM | link
i don't know for certain that you could get one, but if i recall correctly Donna Purnomo of Yono's/dp's is a huge fan of the egg cream, so you might be able to charm your way into one at dp's....but that might be a really strange request for that venue.
... said maybe on Jun 26, 2012 at 4:15 PM | link
Friendly's will make you one. It's not on the menu but they should be able to make it if you ask the right person there.
... said kate on Jun 26, 2012 at 7:34 PM | link
Make it yourself! Get some milk, some Fox's U-Bet (NOT, and I repeat NOT Hershey's syrup, and some canned seltzer (not as good as the fresh fountain stuff, but not bad...).
Also, a high-walled glass and a long spoon are key, to make that infamous clanging sound as you mix!
... said Mike on Jun 26, 2012 at 10:00 PM | link
What you NEED to make the proper foamy head, is not a syphon, but rather a seltzer fountain with two positions. One pushes a thin stream of seltzer out under high pressure to create the foamy head, the other releases a high volume of seltzer at low pressure.
You also need someone skilled enough to know how to use one properly.
I actually spied a seltzer spigot built into the counter at the Playdium bowling alley snack bar. When I pointed it out to the owner, he positively lit up as he recalled fond memories of when it was functional. There is also one at Professor Java's which still works. They just need to find some old Brooklynite to train them in this lost art.
... said Daniel B. on Jun 26, 2012 at 11:16 PM | link
Ben & Jerry's on Lark street can make you an egg cream. .
State university on the campus has a Hagen Dazs shop.
You bring back memories of Stiddick's on upper Madison Ave. I worked there for a couple of days, until i got the flu, and gave the job to my best friend Cookie.
Kessler's on New Scotland had a wonderful ice cream parlor.
Less we forget "The Greeks", and Michael's ice cream parlors on my block.
Back in those wonderful days most of Albany's drug stores had an ice cream parlor.
If i close my eyes i can still smell the chocolate malts!
... said mg on Jun 27, 2012 at 7:36 AM | link
nobody has said Hot Dog Heaven on Lark - come on! and get a couple Lil' Pups with the works to help it go down.
... said awlbany on Jun 27, 2012 at 10:45 AM | link
I believe I've gotten egg cream in the last year or so at the Ultraviolet cafe next to the Spectrum.
... said Lana on Jun 27, 2012 at 1:24 PM | link
Tollgate, perhaps?
... said JFN on Jun 27, 2012 at 4:37 PM | link
The Ice Cream Man is charming little place that has terrific ice cream of all sorts.
Good sandwiches, sides soups, and egg creams as well!
... said mg on Jun 27, 2012 at 10:55 PM | link
Yes, I had one at the Ultraviolet as well
... said Terrence on Jun 29, 2012 at 9:18 AM | link
Fox's U-Bet chocolate syrup is a requirement for a New York City-style egg cream. That's what grandma always used!
... said Ellen on Jun 29, 2012 at 12:10 PM | link
They used to be on the menu at Peaches at Stuyvesant Plaza, and might still be, but I can't tell you whether they're any good.
... said Laura Bird on Jun 30, 2012 at 9:53 PM | link
The Lake Store in Indian Lake. Bit of a hike, but if you are up in the Adirondacks, stop in. The place has been around since the 40's and has an old school, full service ice cream counter. Egg Creams are actually on the menu above the counter.
They even have the old school seltzer on tap.
... said Ryan on Jul 15, 2012 at 2:54 PM | link