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Seasoned

The scoop on Connecticut’s best local ice cream shops

By Robyn Doyon-Aitken ,

Catie Talarski, Meg Dalton, Tagan Engel, Stephanie Stender, Megan Fitzgerald, Katrice Claudio

Published April 29, 2024 at 5:03 PM EDT

AUGUST 25, 2023 - Kelly Anne Pearce, owner of Sweet Claude's Ice Cream in Cheshire CT.

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AUGUST 25, 2023 - Kelly Anne Pearce, owner of Sweet Claude's Ice Cream in Cheshire CT.

Tony Spinelli / Connecticut Public

Peach ice cream with fresh peaches from Drazen Orchards in Cheshire is a seasonable favorite from Sweet Claude's Ice Cream in Cheshire CT.

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Peach ice cream with fresh peaches from Drazen Orchards in Cheshire is a seasonable favorite from Sweet Claude's Ice Cream in Cheshire CT.

Tony Spinelli / Connecticut Public

Some of the many flavors Kelly Anne Pearce offers through her shop Sweet Claude's.

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Some of the many flavors Kelly Anne Pearce offers through her shop Sweet Claude's.

Tony Spinelli / Connecticut Public

Sprinkled cones are one of the offerings by Kelly Anne Pearce, owner of Sweet Claude's Ice Cream in Cheshire, CT.

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Sprinkled cones are one of the offerings by Kelly Anne Pearce, owner of Sweet Claude's Ice Cream in Cheshire, CT.

Tony Spinelli

Sweet Claude's Ice Cream in Cheshire, Ct.

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Sweet Claude's Ice Cream in Cheshire, Ct.

Tony Spinelli

7-year-old Freida Colón (center) eyes the toppings at Micro Creamery in Woodbridge. The ice cream parlor works with 6 local vendors to offer a selection of over 70 ice creams — a concept inspired by microbreweries.

6 of 13 — August 31, 2023 - Micro Creamery

7-year-old Freida Colón (center) eyes the toppings at Micro Creamery in Woodbridge. The ice cream parlor works with 6 local vendors to offer a selection of over 70 ice creams — a concept inspired by microbreweries.

Ryan Caron King / Connecticut Public

An assortment of toppings at at Micro Creamery in Woodbridge — where ice cream lovers can choose from over 70 flavors from 6 vendors from around Connecticut.

7 of 13 — August 31, 2023 - Micro Creamery

An assortment of toppings at at Micro Creamery in Woodbridge — where ice cream lovers can choose from over 70 flavors from 6 vendors from around Connecticut.

Ryan Caron King / Connecticut Public

7-year-old Freida Colón (center) tries a sample as she and her cousins Alexander (left) and Petra Teng (right) get ice cream at Micro Creamery in Woodbridge after a day at soccer camp. The ice cream parlor works with 6 local vendors to offer a selection of over 70 ice creams — a concept inspired by microbreweries.

8 of 13 — August 31, 2023 - Micro Creamery

7-year-old Freida Colón (center) tries a sample as she and her cousins Alexander (left) and Petra Teng (right) get ice cream at Micro Creamery in Woodbridge after a day at soccer camp. The ice cream parlor works with 6 local vendors to offer a selection of over 70 ice creams — a concept inspired by microbreweries.

Ryan Caron King / Connecticut Public

9-year-old Alexander Teng gets a sample of ice cream at Micro Creamery in Woodbridge after a day at soccer camp. The ice cream parlor works with 6 local vendors to offer a selection of over 70 ice creams — a concept inspired by microbreweries.

9 of 13 — August 31, 2023 - Micro Creamery

9-year-old Alexander Teng gets a sample of ice cream at Micro Creamery in Woodbridge after a day at soccer camp. The ice cream parlor works with 6 local vendors to offer a selection of over 70 ice creams — a concept inspired by microbreweries.

Ryan Caron King / Connecticut Public

9-year-old Alexander Teng tries his uncle Daniel Colón's ice cream cone as he and his family catch a break from the heat at Micro Creamery in Woodbridge, Conn. Colón says it’s their favorite spot to go after soccer camp. Micro Creamery works with 6 local vendors to offer a selection of over 70 ice creams — a concept inspired by microbreweries.

10 of 13 — August 31, 2023 - Micro Creamery

9-year-old Alexander Teng tries his uncle Daniel Colón's ice cream cone as he and his family catch a break from the heat at Micro Creamery in Woodbridge, Conn. Colón says it’s their favorite spot to go after soccer camp. Micro Creamery works with 6 local vendors to offer a selection of over 70 ice creams — a concept inspired by microbreweries.

Ryan Caron King / Connecticut Public

Shahan Kukreja stands for a portrait in Micro Creamery, the ice cream parlor in Woodbridge that features over 70 different flavors of ice cream from around Connecticut. Last year, Kukreja started the business with his father Dinesh — who has been in the ice cream business since the mid-2000s.

11 of 13 — August 31, 2023 - Micro Creamery

Shahan Kukreja stands for a portrait in Micro Creamery, the ice cream parlor in Woodbridge that features over 70 different flavors of ice cream from around Connecticut. Last year, Kukreja started the business with his father Dinesh — who has been in the ice cream business since the mid-2000s.

Ryan Caron King / Connecticut Public

Craig Behun is the man behind @cticecreamtour on Instagram.

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Craig Behun is the man behind @cticecreamtour on Instagram.

Provided / Craig Behun

Dr. Steve Zinn is a UConn professor in the Department of Animal Science in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR); he was previously department head of Dept of Animal Science.

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Dr. Steve Zinn is a UConn professor in the Department of Animal Science in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR); he was previously department head of Dept of Animal Science.

Provided / University of Connecticut

This hour, we get the scoop on some of the state’s best ice cream shops from two people devoted to local ice cream. We talk with Craig Behun, the ice cream lover behind the Instagram @cticecreamtour and Shahan Kukreja of Micro Creamery. Since 2015, Craig’s been posting about his adventures trying ice cream shops all over the state. And Shahan takes the micro brewery concept and applies it to ice cream. You’ll find more than 70 local ice cream flavors in the shop.

Plus, Sweet Claude’s in Cheshire is an ice cream shop we love; get to know its owner Kelly Anne Pearce.

And finally, Dr. Steve Zinn, UConn professor in the Department of Animal Science, talks about the cows we have to thank for the milk used in the excellent ice cream served at the UConn Dairy Bar (@uconndairybar).

GUESTS:

Craig Behun: Ice cream lover, creator of @cticecreamtour
Shahan Kukreja: Co-owner of Micro Creamery in Woodbridge and Milford, Conn. (@microcreameryofct)
Kelly Anne Pearce: Owner and ice cream maker, Sweet Claude’s in Cheshire, Conn. (@sweet_claudes)
Dr. Steve Zinn: UConn professor in the Department of Animal Science in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR); previously department head of Dept of Animal Science

Your Picks: Thank you to everyone who shared ice cream shop recommendations with us! We compiled all your shout outs here, including every shop that was mentioned during our round table discussion with Craig and Shahan.

Learn More: Watch UConn's cows step up to the Voluntary Milking System to be milked.

This show was produced by Robyn Doyon-Aitken, Catie Talarski, Meg Dalton, Tagan Engel, Stephanie Stender, Katrice Claudio, and Meg Fitzgerald, with help from Sabrina Herrera on Social. It originally aired September 21, 2023.

Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and email: seasoned@ctpublic.org.

Hungry for more? Subscribe to the Full Plate newsletter for links to recent episodes and recipes from cookbooks we love.

Seasoned is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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Robyn Doyon-Aitken

Robyn Doyon-Aitken is the Deputy Director of Audio Storytelling and Talk Shows

See stories by Robyn Doyon-Aitken

Catie Talarski

Catie Talarski is Senior Director of Storytelling and Radio Programming at Connecticut Public.

See stories by Catie Talarski

Meg Dalton

Meg Dalton is the director of audio storytelling and talk shows for Connecticut Public where she oversees the station’s talk shows and podcasts, including the limited series 'In Absentia'.

See stories by Meg Dalton

Tagan Engel

Tagan Engel is a producer/contributor and guest co-host of Seasoned. She is the founder of The Table Underground radio show, podcast, and website, and is a social justice organizer and trained chef.

See stories by Tagan Engel

Stephanie Stender

Stephanie Stender is a producer of Seasoned.

See stories by Stephanie Stender

Megan Fitzgerald

Meg Fitzgerald is the senior manager of projects and radio programming.

See stories by Megan Fitzgerald

Katrice Claudio

Katrice Claudio is a producer of Seasoned.

See stories by Katrice Claudio

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