the buzz log

For years, vanilla has been the favored flavor. Now, during the 25th anniversary of National Ice Cream Month, a Harris poll dares to declare chocolate as the ice cream choice of the American people.

Scandal! Upset! Could that sensuous hussy truly usurp the pure, comforting simplicity of the vanilla bean? Countless sources beg to differ, among them the NPD Group and the International Ice Cream Association (although, OK, that second list dates back to 2006).

Flavor Explosion
The real story isn't the favorite, but how many flavors exist nowadays. According to Country Living, the best-sellers from top brands are: Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia, Graeter's black raspberry chip, Baskin-Robbins Praline 'n' Cream, and Breyers vanilla.

Then you have taste-masters creating mixes like ginger wasabi (Cold Stone). In Boston, the trend includes bitter basil, salty caramel, spicy chocolate, and curried coconut. At the 2008 Yokohama Ice Cream Expo, where weird favors ruled, people couldn't get enough of the beef tongue. As if the milk from the cow wasn't enough.

Variations on a Cream
No bovine preferences among the ice cream flavors searched on Yahoo!, but trendy variations like basil did pop up, as did traditional standbys like butter brickle and oddities like Orange Crush. (Another soda maker, Dr. Pepper, appeared as among the topping choices, although peanut butter led the saucy searches.) 

Other notable trends: People want their ice cream in cupcake form, homemade, or fried (especially Mexican style).

Below, in time for National Ice Cream Day (Sunday, July 19), the most popular flavors: At least online, vanilla's place is assured, just like it was in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Sample for yourself, and weigh in below on your preferred pleasure. Oh, and since it is the 25th anniversary, knock yourself out and get a silver spoon to celebrate.

Filed under: Food, Ice Cream, Desserts

A gripping remake, a sweet re-imagining, and a queasy look at America's food chain make for a healthy draw in the Buzz Multiplex this week...but are any an antidote to "The Hangover"? Not likely. While a Travolta-Washington pairing is impressive, the bachelor-party-gone-bad should continue to dominate the box office given the whopping Web interest. Among the premieres, here's how they stack against one another this week.

1. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (R). This remake of the 1974 thriller is the first job that John Travolta and Denzel Washington have done together, and that may be enough of a pull for this heavyweight match. With terrorism having a whole new meaning in present-day NYC, Time magazine's comparison of the city then and now is engrossing. Given the death of his son earlier this year, Travolta hasn't done any publicity for the film: He's pulling in more online queries than his co-star.

2. Food Inc (PG, limited release). Featuring the respective authors of "Fast Food Nation" and "The Omnivore's Dilemma," the documentary gives a close-up to America's corporate food chain. Although a limited release, the unappetizing look has been getting solid reviews (although NYT pines for more issue-thrashing) and decent Web interest among people in their 20s through 60s.

3. Imagine That (PG). A sweet enough premise: Financial exec facing downward spiral and family estrangement gets advice from daughter's imaginary friends. Sounds like something Wall Street execs could've benefited from, but the real question is: Does Eddie Murphy restore his funnyman image here? Los Angeles Times says he's the "most entertaining thing" about the comedy, but DVD Talk sees this as another sign of his "obsolescence as a big screen superstar." Ouch. Mild searches at best, mostly from the under-13 set. Looks like Murphy's destined for the DVD bin.

Filed under: Movies, Food, Comedians, Trains

Today, a couple national chains offer more deals, with some altruistic twists. April 21 noon to 8 p.m. is the annual free cone day at Ben & Jerry's, purveyor of cheeky concoctions like Chubby Hubby, Jamaican Me Crazy and Karamel Sutra. (Naturally, we're intrigued by the Coffee, Coffee, BuzzBuzzBuzz.) Some locations will be doubling up with a good purpose, such as a blood drive, selling $1 waffle cones for a kids' club, or partnering with an advocacy center to bring attention to Child Awareness Month.

If dairy's not your treat, two quarters will score you an iced coffee at Dunkin' Donuts. That extra buzz will also help Homes For Our Troops, which gets a nickel for every cup sold.

Given the Search surge for both joints, expect long lines from people primed for their treats. Now if only fitness centers joined in and offered treadmill runs free up to 300 calories burned, it could really be a feel-good day.

Filed under: Business, Food, Coffee, Ice Cream, Charity