The American Cheesesteak Co. launches Coney Island frozen custard

Up until recently, I had never tried frozen custard before. This is probably because I’ve never been to Coney Island, where the frozen dessert originates from. However, a Vancouver restaurant is now serving up the sweet treat. The American Cheesesteak Co. (781 Davie Street) recently added Coney Island frozen custard to their menu, which specializes in Philly cheesesteaks.

Frozen custard is similar to ice-cream but made with the addition of eggs to cream and sugar. This gives the dessert a smoother, custard-like texture, and it’s also supposed to help frozen custard stay colder for longer.

At a media event on September 18, I had my first frozen custard and also had a chance to taste a few of the fun flavours offered at the restaurant. The original flavour (vanilla) is a good place to start—and it’s the foundation of all the other inventive flavours created by chef Nyle Petherbridge. The American Cheesesteak Co. makes fresh batches of frozen custard each day, so when you visit, you might find London Fog, black forest  cake, bourbon chocolate chunk, blood orange and candied ginger creamsicle, caramel fleur de sel, or Thai coconut in the freezer.

Of the flavours I tasted, my favourite was the mint frozen custard with chocolate-covered pop rocks. The green mint custard was bright and refreshing, and the addition of pop rocks—those mini candies that pop and crackle in your mouth—was fun. 

A scoop of frozen custard starts at $3.50, and if you want to take some home, the restaurant also sells 500 mL pints of frozen custard starting at $6. The American Cheesesteak Co. opened in 2011 with the help of celebrity chef Anthony Sedlak. After Sedlak’s death in 2012, co-owners Andy Eng and Juliana Eng continue to run the restaurant.