Over The Rainbow
Happy 100th Birthday, Rainbow Cone. Plus, ROCK ON: A wonderful chance meeting
There was an article in the Chicago Tribune this week celebrating the 100th anniversary of The Rainbow Cone, an ice cream icon created on the South Side.
How did I not know about this hometown treat when I’ve lived in Chicago for the past decade?
It looked so over the top I had to try one. I wasn’t feeling well last week, so my dramatic inner monologue was “I’ll venture out into the world again now that I’m feeling better and indulge in a five-story ice cream tower as a sign of my return to health.” And off I went.
This from David Hammond in the Trib:
The cone’s five flavors sing in improbable harmony. Chocolate establishes the bass note, rich and deep with a trace of bitterness. Strawberry brightens the composition with fresh, tart fruitiness.
Palmer House, a mellow vanilla studded with cherries and walnuts, adds sweetness and texture. Pistachio almond provides a restrained, almost savory contrast. Topping it off, orange sherbet cuts through the richness with a clean burst of citrus, both palate cleanser and finale.
The first shop was opened in 1926 in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood by founders Joe and Katharine Sapp. Joe created a spade/paddle to slice the ice cream and stack it. The site was near several cemeteries and on Sunday’s, after families paid their respects to the departed, they’d stop for a Rainbow Cone on the way home.
I asked Amy Cavanaugh, Dining Editor at Chicago Magazine and author of American Weekender what she thought:
I had my first Rainbow Cone at the Taste of Chicago, probably shortly after I moved to town in the early 2010s, and have had plenty more since then. I had never had anything like it before. I usually get just one or two flavors on a cone so to have five is really unique. And the unusual combination of flavors really does work, since the fruits and nuts make sense together, and chocolate complements each of those flavors. I’m not at all surprised that Rainbow Cone has made it to its 100th birthday. Chicagoans have always embraced those things that make us special, and this is no different.
The original, expanded store in Beverly is still open, along with several locations around Chicago and the Midwest, plus California, Florida and Texas.
I got my cone at the shop inside Gino’s East Pizza, where patrons leave names and messages on this panel of wisdom.
As I struggled to take a picture of my cone, a lovely father and his young daughter came to my rescue and kindly took the photo at the top of this page. Thank you, Ali and Tala! Once the cone’s glamour shot was over, I promptly put it into a cup, much easier to enjoy that way.
And enjoy I did. The ice cream itself is good, and as Amy and the Tribune agreed, the flavors work together well. This is a place I’ll take friends and family when they visit, and also treat myself to every once in a while. And if you buy an ice cream paddle, you can make them at home and wow guests at your next party.
Before I left, I signed the panel on behalf of myself and readers of TTK, so we, too, are part of the 100-year celebration.
Rock On, Rainbow Cone!
And Speaking of Rocking On
Filled with ice cream and good cheer, I headed out of The Rainbow Cone and walked to Michigan Avenue. It was a sunny, beautiful, clear afternoon after so many days of heat and bad air.
I walked a few blocks heading north and walking right towards me, heading south, was the brilliant Jack White.
I’ve always made a habit of not bothering celebrities. But in this case, one of my favorite musicians of all time was approaching directly in my path.
Before my mind could stop my mouth I heard myself saying “Jack!” and that was that. I started stream-of-consciousness gushing like a groupie: “Your music is so great, Meg was so great, my name is Jolene, I loved The White Stripes cover of “Jolene”, my brothers love you, my friends love you, I love your new work…”
The poor guy. On and on I went and he couldn’t have been nicer. Then I engaged in ultimate-cringe behavior and asked if we could take a picture, to which he said, “Sure”.
When I took out my phone he suggested we move to the shade, so we moved a few feet out of the sun. Once we were positioned I handed him my phone, and in what I can only describe as a moment of temporary insanity I said “here, you take it, you’re taller.” WHAT! Did I just ask him to take the selfies?
He graciously snapped a bunch of pictures, complimented my outfit (I giggled like a girl) and handed me back my phone. I showed him the Rainbow Cone photo (I mean, it was right there) shook his hand, thanked him profusely and told him how much his music meant to me.
It was so lovely, and a reminder that music gives us a language that connects us all. Thank you, Jack White.
Have a great week, everyone. See you soon.
Jolene
Ice cream!! JACK WHITE! What day you had! When my friend and I went to hear him we bought tix a bit late and ended up in the rafters. But we—oldies—were dancing! And so someone came up to us partway through, and told us they had two empty seats down below… that we could have. The young people in the row behind us said “Wow! I’ve HEARD of this happening!” And high-fived us, and then we were escorted to amazing seats!
Jolene, thank you for sharing this. Always such a good read. I so want to see your town someday. Hope to get to your annual blues fest… xo
Amazing, Jolene!! Ice cream and Jack White in one day?!! 🍦🙊❣️