The Store Bought Ice Cream Bobby Flay Swears By

Who doesn't scream for ice cream? It is one of life's simple pleasures and brings joy to everyone—even the lactose intolerant, much as they may deny it. Recently there has been a surge in creative and whimsical flavors, and brands like Halo Top and Enlightened have made eating the pint the norm with their lighter, lower-calorie options. But even classics like chocolate and vanilla truly hit the spot most of the time. 

While Spruce Eats lauds the benefits and elevated flavor of homemade ice cream due to its lack of "artificial ingredients, fake thickeners, or weird stabilizers," Insider stands on the other side of the argument, listing some chefs' favorite store-bought options. And while Bobby Flay isn't included in their list, he's got some strong opinions about a certain store-bought ice cream brand that he's been eating since childhood. So what has the famous chef's taste buds jonesing for more?

Leave it to Bobby Flay to bring the fandom to the brand Graeter's. Though not as well-known as brands like Ben & Jerry's and Häagen-Dazs, Graeter's is an Ohio-based company with stores in several states (via the Grater's website), and it's clearly popular with Flay. InStyle notes that the Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip flavor was fondly remembered by Flay as a part of his childhood. He described the flavor profile as "a great balance of tart and sweet, and the slight bitterness of the chocolate." Perhaps that preference ran in the family. "It was actually my dad's favorite too!" explained Flay, who said the ice cream of his youth was "still a go-to dessert."

He even flaunted his love for Graeter's Twitter. So while this may not solve the debate of homemade vs. store-bought, it definitely expands your options if you don't feel like splurging for a by-the-scoop experience or going out of your way to make your own ice cream, which, while not difficult, can definitely take some time.