Flavors...

[jbsegal.livejournal.com]

Folks? Why are different and experimental flavors a bad thing? Why are they a sign of a moral failing?

I like them. I encourage them.

I think that our recent move towards shrinking the batch size is a good thing, but I think that creativity in frozen dessert making is good.

Comments

Can I get a volunteer?

[istemi.livejournal.com]

Why don't a couple people who would like to see more simple flavors volunteer to make simple flavors? Someone take vanilla and chocolate, someone else take strawberry and.. is there a fourth simple flavor?

The Champions of Plain are responsible for picking a recipe and bringing ingredients, like anyone else. If it's made on Friday or Saturday morning, it will be ready for the first feeding, and it will get mixed long before supplies run out. The Champions of Plain will have at least two flavors they want to eat, plus the warm glow from doing a good deed for the community.

The other flavors happen because somebody says "You're right, there OUGHTTA be a _______ (http://www.baitcon.org/flavors.html). Then they do it.

Re: Can I get a volunteer?

[quietann.livejournal.com]

Why don't a couple people who would like to see more simple flavors volunteer to make simple flavors? Someone take vanilla and chocolate, someone else take strawberry and.. is there a fourth simple flavor?

I'll assume that you are not being snarky here, though I have the feeling that I am wrong.

I don't think anyone is saying that there is a strong need for simple vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, although a good vanilla ice cream is, in fact, delightful. I often start with the vanilla the first time I visit an ice cream place, and have found that a good vanilla correlated highly with good ice cream in general. It's just that if more and more people focus on weird flavors, then the stuff that is interesting but not weird gets crowded out.

Re: Can I get a volunteer?

[istemi.livejournal.com]

I'll assume that you are not being snarky here

Correct, I am not being snarky. There was a suggestion in the other thread to deliberately making some simple flavors, and vanilla and strawberry were explicitly suggested.

If someone feels strongly about having simple flavors, the best way to make it happen is to take ownership of making it happen. It's more effective to say "I will make sure this happens" than to wish for it and be disappointed later. It's also a kindness; you're taking care of others with the same concern. I imagine parents of small children would be thankful for simple flavors.

For example, Donna has raised a concern about allergies and cross-contamination, and she's working to make a change.

It's just that if more and more people focus on weird flavors, then the stuff that is interesting but not weird gets crowded out.
There were 83 flavors (http://www.baitcon.org/flavors.html) last year. I'd say 4 of the 83 were hardcore weird: chicken liver, proscioutto balsamic fig, tit surprise, and curried chocolate. There were takers for all of them-- or three outta four, I can't speak to tit surprise.

Those four were more memorable than the other 79 flavors, but they didn't crowd it out. That's not a resource drain, that's a research budget.

Re: Can I get a volunteer?

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

it's my understanding that for some of the oddball flavors the people responsible actually BRING all or most of the ingredients, so it's not like they are leeching supplies off anyone else - in fact, more for everybody. yes, they're consuming some liquid nitrogen, but i also recall that some years there was more than a surplus of that too. i also know that some folx had surplus of their basics and donated them one year.

and i agree, the simplest way to get what you want, is to take ownership of it. want a gallon of flavor foo? make it happen. want to make sure you get some? i'm sure as the maker one could reserve a yogurt container full. don't forget to label it.

#

Re: Can I get a volunteer?

[whuffle.livejournal.com]

Correct. Many of the folks making the truly weird flavors make a base for these flavors in their own kitchens and bring it along. So its not a drain on the resources. I actually make the base for all my flavors at home and bring it in frozen bags. Sometimes, I do need to add the dairy product when I get on site. But usually its less than 2 cups. This gives me more time to socialize.

Re: Can I get a volunteer?

[awfief.livejournal.com]

I will say that I enjoy the mundane flavors more, and that's why I make them at home. I never had chocolate at Baitcon.

Wanting vanilla flavors at baitcon is like going skydiving because you like the plane ride. You can quote me on that.

Ice cream makers aren't hard to come by; not expensive. Ice cream is easier to make at home than at baitcon. So sure, make ice cream at baitcon. If you didn't get a taste of a flavor everyone was raving about, then get the recipe.

Re: Can I get a volunteer?

[donnad.livejournal.com]

I do make the simple plain flavors and they disappear so quickly that I don't even get a taste. (I am not willing to be pushy and grab the spoon to get it.) And since they do dissappear so fast it tells me that there is more of a demand for the simple ordinary flavors than we anticipate. Thus making a few more would be a good idea.

Re: Can I get a volunteer?

[whuffle.livejournal.com]

We have someone who wasn't in attendance last year that is a champion of the plain. He usually makes plain vanilla.

done.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

Can I get a volunteer

done!

if i make it this year (and my summer is still kind of up in the air, schedule-wise), i will make a batch of some hopefully tasty flavor. possibly two.