One of my favorite markets for its exotic ice cream flavors. But owner Caroline Tay is also one of my favorite market people. Like me, she thinks Washingtonians should venture beyond the diamond for their culinary adventures. After all, her ice cream parlor is just at the top of 16th Street where it meets Georgia Avenue - a straight shot from the 7th St NW Convention Center. "Fifteen minutes!", she says. And you can pick up a pint (or more) of her Pumpkin Ice Cream for Thanksgiving...

The shopping strip store has been going for 23 years. But she bought it 8 years ago from its original owner Calver Headley. Like Caroline Tay, he's from Jamaica where the pastime of meeting at the ice cream parlour at the weekend was a tradition he wanted to replicate in the Washington area. He learned his local craft working with the late John Nash Gifford, founder of the original Gifford’s Ice Cream on Georgia Avenue. And started with the flavors he remembered from his childhood days. Caroline Tay has continued with them. Here's where you'll find Grapenut, Rum Raisin, Guinness and tropical fruit flavors, along with more familiar tastes like Swiss Chocolate, Eggnog and Peppermint Stick. At Thanksgiving, she does an ice cream cake with a pumpkin turkey shape running through it. The rest of the year, you just get a pumpkin scoop.

You'll also find a warm welcome and hot Jamaican patties.

York Castle Tropical Ice Cream, 9324 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, 301 589 1616.

Related Information...