Tastemakers: Cold Stone Cremery - Coca Cola Black

Northern Michigan ice cream lovers have been flocking to Cold Stone Creamery since the Arizona based company opened its doors a couple years ago in TC. The company launched in 1988 when Donald and Susan Sutherland were in search for the perfect ice cream franchise. They couldn’t find one; the ice cream was either to hard-packed or too soft for their liking so they started their own. Making “smooth and creamy” ice cream daily, the store caught on quickly in Tempe, Arizona and seven years later the first franchise opened. Today there are over 1,300 locations in U.S. and Japan with another 1,000 locations opening in the next couple of years. It appears that Cold Stone is on the verge of becoming the largest ice cream company in the universe.
Using the fresh-made ice cream and a cold slab of granite (stone) as their easel, talkative and often singing staffers make artistic creations using “mix-ins.” Try the Coffee Lovers Only made with coffee ice cream with roasted almonds, chunks of Heath bars, and caramel as a mix-in. A visit to Cold Stone is definitely an entertaining and tasty experience. During a recent visit there was some confusion as I thought I ordered Coffee Lovers but had misspoke. Ice cream artist Adam apologized even though I made a mistake and he quickly whipped up my creation saying, “No worries, I’ll just take this mistake home with me and have it for dinner.” Enjoy your Cold Stone Creation in either a waffle cup or cone; both are made fresh daily.


COCA-COLA BL?K

Okay, for true connoisseurs of coffee a fresh-roasted cup served black is the way to go. It seems that coffee craziness is starting to get out of hand with latte’s, mochas, coffee yogurt and even chocolate-covered coffee beans popping up all over. So what could possibly be next? Coffee and Coca-Cola? Sounds a little far fetched, but someone in Atlanta didn’t think so and Coca-Cola has recently released Bl?k.
“Coca-Cola Bl?k is not just a flavor extension. It is a blend of unique Coke refreshment with the true essence of coffee and has a rich smooth texture and has a coffee-like froth when poured,” said Marc Mathieu, vice president, Global Core Brands, The Coca-Cola Company. “We believe we have created a new category of soft drink – an adult product in a carbonated beverage – and a whole new drinking experience. This brand is ideal for any part of the day when people are looking for renewed energy or simply to take a break.”
In recent years the soft drink industry has become a little sleepy so it needed a little caffeine to perk up. Bl?k has twice the caffeine of a regular bottle of Coke and 1/3rd less than a cup of coffee. For coffee-oholics like myself Bl?k offers a refreshing change of pace especially after five or six cups of coffee. It has notes of caramel and vanilla and is perfectly flavored balanced creating a “coffeessence” sensation. Packaged in attractive eight ounce glass bottle Bl?k is the perfect mid-afternoon booster. Try Bl?k when you start to doze off at your desk or when pulling the all-nighter. Kudos to Coke, so maybe you didn’t “teach the world to sing in perfect harmony,” but maybe you can “buy the world a bottle of Bl?k and keep it company.” View On Our Website