My Delicious Adventure with Ben & Jerry's
Monday, April 13, 2015 
So, I recently went to Vermont. As a guest of Ben and Jerry. You might know them from the ice cream in your supermarket. Let me guide you through the experience in PICTURES.
My Ben & Jerry's Adventure in Vermont
Vermont! I didn't know who else would be there for the event, and I was a little nervous. But I felt a bit better after I found an awesome goodie back including all sorts of made-in-Vermont treats and a fleece jacket emblazoned with the Ben & Jerry's logo in just my size, and after I had turned on Law and Order, of course.
The next morning, I took a yoga class at a nearby studio before the Ben & Jerry's events started. Om nom namaste!
Afterward, I returned to the hotel, got ready and headed down to the lobby, where I found who else but BAKERELLA! I did kind of tackle her. That part is factual. 
We all went to the Penny Cluse Cafe, which used to be one of the first Ben & Jerry's scoop shop locations. Perhaps most importantly: we ate in the room where chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream was invented. 
We headed to the corporate offices of Ben & Jerry's, where we split into teams. Mine included Bakerella (my darling!) and Nick from On Second Scoop. We got to invent an ice cream flavor with a flavor specialist who looked just like Alan Arkin. You can't really see it in ice cream form, but trust me on this one.
We got to see the faux scoop shop in their HQ where they train franchisees. We also got to eat ice cream. 
After our flavor adventure, we had a nice dinner out. Most importantly of ALL: it was on this fateful evening that I was exposed to some cultural phenomena I had not been previously: first, the term "lumbersexual"; second, the term "throwing shade". I now strive to use these terms in at least every other sentence. 
The next morning, we got to visit one of Ben & Jerry's dairies. As long as you have absolutely no follow up questions, this is exactly what it was like. 
After that, we got to go to their factory and see the ice cream made. For no particular reason, men wearing nets in over their hair hack ice cream for a job there!
Oh, I'm kidding. They slice the pints at random to make sure the fillings are evenly distributed. It does look like a Damien hirst ice cream art installation when they do it, though.
Since we were in Vermont, it was the law that we go snowshoeing. Since we were at Ben & Jerry's, our journey ended at the Flavor Graveyard, where they pay homage to flavors no longer in circulation. 
WE GOT TO MEET BEN. As in, Ben & Jerry's. He was a really nice guy and he gave us each a stamp so that we could stamp dollar bills with political statements. I'm not kidding. 
When it was time to go, I didn't want to leave.
But I did. I missed Porkchop and my sweetie too much to stay in Vermont, so I took a plane back home.
The End.
artwork
Reader Comments (20)
Alice: Yes! Bakerella is my sweet soul mate. I was so lucky to run into her.
Allie: LOL!! A lumbersexual is (to paraphrase) a highly coiffed man who crafts things from wood. "Throwing shade" is to say a snide yet indirect remark. I'll be sure to use them in posts in the future so you can see them in context.
Susan: Next time! Miss you!
Chineka: I sure did!
Erin: thanks!!
Joanne: Thank you!
Dorothy: thank you girl!
Erin: next time!
Eva: you'd love it!
Your comment made me glow. <3 <3
Monica: Thanks for the kind words! I concur - the ice cream does taste better there. It has a sense of place and is also so fresh - perfect combo!
Kathy: thank you so much! I just added all the ones I have (I sent the Ben image to the real ben!) to my etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/cakespyshop