Grocery Store Gold

Like an archeologist discovering a prehistoric ice-man frozen for thousands of years in a glacier, such was my joy on Sunday.

I scanned the ice cream section of our local Food Basics, ignoring the Skor and Rolo ice cream novelties. Then I came across something mysterious. A frozen block of ice. It called to me, and a chill entered my spine. Slow, like death, it crept up my vertibrae until it tickled my cerebellum and ignited a spark.

I chipped away the layer of frozen water. "Breyers" it said. With trembling hands I chipped more ice away to reveal the secret this box of ice cream held. It did not say "Naturally Flavoured". This was the real thing. I was so astounded to find the words "All Natural" that I freaked out, fumbled and eventually dropped the ice cream on the floor. Dozens of eyes looked my way. I didn't care.

When Breyers changed their ice-cream making process, I bitched about it. The new ice cream isn't very good. But the Canada Food Inspection Agency put too much pressure on them and their term "All Natural", forcing them to change the process, the ingredients, and the name.

"All Natural." Two simple words. They remind me of a short period of time when everything was good. 2004.

This box is the last of its kind. With the finishing of this ice cream comes the end of an era of deliciousness. I sadly choke down its contents each night, and wonder if there is another hidden treasure frozen in some lonely grocery store out there.