‘Rich, Creamy’ Cicada Ice Cream Makes Comeback In Princeton

PRINCETON, NJ — Nothing says seasonal flavor (17 years between seasons, seasonal) like a scoop of cicada ice cream and when The Bent Spoon debuted its cicada chocolate chip ice cream last month, it was an instant hit with patrons.

Wondering what these Brood X creations taste like? For Stephnie Beaudry, general manager at Princeton Corkscrew Wine shop, the ice cream was “rich and delicious.”

“If I didn’t know cicadas were in there, I would never be able to tell,” Beaudry told Patch. “It was rich and creamy with a very slight grittiness — which I think came from chocolate being pulverized.”

An adventurous eater, Beaudry has tried crickets and grasshoppers thanks to her job that takes her across the globe, and her husband who works at a restaurant. A friend who’s an expert on the subject of cicadas told Beaudry about their sustainability and how they were a rich source of protein.

But Beaudry credits The Bent Spoon for making her try this creation.

“Everything that comes out of there (The Bent Spoon) is delicious. And Gabriella is great at what she does,” she said. "The cicada chocolate chip ice cream was a little bit heartier than other ice creams I’ve eaten, and it had an earthy aftertaste.”

For Beaudry, the flavor exceeded all expectations.

“They say Red Bull gives you wings," she said. "But I think the cicada ice cream gives you wings.”

The last time the Bent Spoon dropped their “shock flavor,” they sold out within an hour, leaving many adventurous eaters disappointed. So, owners Gabriella Carbone and Matthew Errico have decided to bring back this much-in-demand flavor on Saturday.

The ice cream store has made “just a little more” of the cicada chocolate chip ice cream and will serve it at the store beginning at 12 p.m. until they run out.

Unlike the last time, where patrons could place pre-orders, this time the ice cream will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. And don’t ask for cicada milkshakes, because there aren't any, said the owners.

“Thank you for being as excited about this as we are,” the ice cream store said in an Instagram post. “This is really it until 2038.”

Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com

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