Brandywine Table: Adventures by the Scoop
June is for ice cream
June invites us to step outside and savor the rhythms of the season — the hum of cicadas, the glow of late sunsets and the quiet joy of small community rituals. In the Brandywine Valley, that often means a drive down a familiar road that somehow feels new again, a stop in a bustling town center or a lingering moment over a melting scoop shared on a warm evening. Ice cream, more than just a treat, becomes part of the landscape itself — a marker of summer, of connection and those fleeting, golden hours we wish we could hold onto just a little longer.
Long before it became a staple of American summers, early versions of frozen desserts traveled across continents with explorers like Marco Polo, whose accounts helped introduce new ideas about chilled sweets to Europe. Centuries later, innovation brought those ideas into everyday life when Nancy Johnson patented the hand-cranked ice cream freezer in 1843, transforming what had once been a labor-intensive luxury into something families could create and enjoy together.
Today, that spirit of discovery continues across Pennsylvania, where the PA Ice Cream Trail highlights dozens of creameries — including several in Chester County — encouraging locals and visitors alike to explore, taste and collect new favorites along the way. Among them, Hangry Bear Creamery in Kennett Square stands out as both a destination and an experience, recently earning national attention with a television feature on Good Morning America’s “Deals & Steals.”
Conceived by owner and operator Melinda Shaw during her years managing the University of Delaware’s UDairy Creamery, Hangry Bear reflects both technical expertise and a sense of play. She and husband Erick have built more than a scoop shop — it’s a welcoming space where guests are encouraged to linger. From small-batch ice creams available by the scoop, pint or quart to a full menu of brunch, lunch and dinner, coffee service, Pennsylvania ciders and cocktails, the Creamery invites visitors to stay awhile. Community is woven into the experience as well, from ice cream-making parties — including two holiday parties for County Lines staff — and custom flavor creations to events like a monthly book club gathering on June 27.
Even the name is personal, inspired by the owners’ son Charlie — the “Bear” — a reminder to embrace joy and keep things a little playful. That same spirit carries through the recipes that follow, from a quick affogato and grilled fruit fresh off the fire to a surprisingly rich no-churn avocado ice cream and a build-your-own ice cream cake.
In the end, the magic of ice cream isn’t just in how it’s made — it’s in where you find it, who you share it with and the moments that melt into memory.