Desperately Seeking Peppermint Bark Ice Cream

Last month I reflected upon the joys of the hot cheesy goodness that is macaroni and cheese, its incomparable taste wrapped within family traditions. As the year comes to an end, I find myself still obsessed with food. You know how some food is intimately connected with a holiday? For me, the object of my obsession is an edible goodie that appears only during the winter holiday season. Not only is it delicious and rare—usually available only in November and December—it is, this year, strangely hard to find. I speak, of course, of peppermint bark ice cream.

My friend Ellen shares my addiction to this ice cream and/or its cousin gelato, with its creamy peppermint flavor, punctuated by solid bits of chocolate. She and I have been desperately searching for it this holiday season. Individually, we have gone to grocery stores, large and small; we have sent each other texts bearing the sad news of no peppermint bark here. My friend, thankfully, has had more success than I. Twice she has found a store selling the coveted flavor of gelato, and she has purchased the containers for us, always thoughtfully leaving one or two containers for the next seeker. Thanks to Ellen, my freezer now has two containers of the frozen nirvana. But, oh, how quickly will those containers meet the recycling bin.

What holiday food or beverage is indispensable for you?

No matter what you love to eat or drink during festive times of the year, allow me to wish you a happy Hanukkah and a merry Christmas. Best wishes to all my friends around the world for a peaceful conclusion to 2019 and for a beautiful new decade ahead.