Enjoy a 99
You would think that something as wonderful, tasty, and delicious as a 99 ice cream would be available worldwide, but sadly not….
While I was gathering my thoughts about what to say about 99 ice creams, other snippets of nonsense came my way. For example, thinking about the number 99 led me to this old favourite, the original in German, and the version we were dancing around to in the 80′s in English. And if you haven’t ever seen the legendary Flake commercials, then here is an example of one of many, and yes, these did air on TV in the UK.
Next, I discovered that Cadbury have exploited the wonderfulness that is a proper 99 and created these, (a travesty in my opinion, but no doubt quite tasty too) and then encouraged people to eat them while riding a roller-coaster! I kid you not – the evidence is here.
Cheers,
Helen
Bio:
I first visited the USA on a school field hockey tour in 1984, and I was, I have to confess… smitten! Fourteen years later I managed to figure out a way to move across the pond and have been here ever since – nearly 13 years. For the past couple of years I have been playing at running a little side business – www.cheekytoad.com – there are British themed greetings cards and children’s T-shirts, pop by for a visit if you fancy it.
Image credits (from video):
http://www.flickr.com/people/roboppy/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/katemonkey/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dnorman/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vige/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mochick/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/comedynose/
Photo credits:
www.43things.com/entries/view/1873352
reddit.wired.com/…/?s=top&offset=175
Why, oh why, don’t we have 99s in America? They sound delicious!
Comment by Beth — October 4, 2010 @ 3:29 pm
They are delicious!
Comment by smittenbybritain — October 4, 2010 @ 3:41 pm
I am drooling thinking about them! Not very pretty!
Comment by Helen — October 4, 2010 @ 3:59 pm
This is kids #1 face treat when in the UK. Without question. And of course, they have to have monkey’s blood on the top!
Love Helen’s web site too!
Comment by Expat Mum — October 4, 2010 @ 4:09 pm
Thanks! Have to ask though – monkey’s blood?! Not heard of that one before!
Comment by Helen — October 4, 2010 @ 4:16 pm
I would assume the monkey’s blood is a topping like raspberry sauce.
Comment by smittenbybritain — October 4, 2010 @ 4:49 pm
Ooooooo I love 99′s! A definite bonus of living in the UK!! x
Comment by Emma — October 4, 2010 @ 8:04 pm
Not exactly summer over here today, but Flakes are my absolute favorite–no need for ice cream for me. I thought 99 was the chocolate though, not the choco-cone combo, as Flakes are longer and thicker as I learned in Deal when we accidentally bought a box of 99s instead of a box of Flakes. (I thought maybe 99 referred to the length; it’s just under 10 cm so I always thought it was 99 mm or something like that.)
This might seem odd to a Brit and a Britophile, but I first discovered this treat as a little girl in Belgium–our ice cream truck had them, at least at the “old” house (when we moved to the new house, the area was too undeveloped for an ice cream truck, sadly).
Smiles,
Frances
PS: In my humble opinion, Flakes are better than the 99 chocolate; I think they make the smaller one less crumbly so it’s easier to put in the ice cream.
Comment by Prodigal Wife — October 4, 2010 @ 8:07 pm
Thanks Frances! Funny you mention Deal, I was brought up in Faversham, Kent, lived in Canterbury as an adult (right before moving Stateside actually) and my Mum and step-dad have a home in Deal! Didn’t even know you could buy a box of 99 flakes. And I think you might be right, they aren’t the same as a “proper” Flake are they. I am pretty sure that the 99 is the Flake/ice cream together. Before doing the video I actually asked my Mum what she would call a soft serve ice cream, and she said she always called them a 99, with or without the Flake! Personally, I think it has to have the Flake to be a true 99!
Did you ever try a Twirl? They are my favourite now – less messy and less wasted chocolate!
Comment by Helen — October 4, 2010 @ 10:52 pm
The red gooey “sauce” that you pour on top. Gross eh?
Comment by Expat Mum — October 4, 2010 @ 11:57 pm
Yeah – if you ask for a 99 you’ll get the cone, ice cream and flake. Without the flake it’s just an ice cream or a cornet, as we say up in the north east.
Also – years ago they brought out a Flake which then had a chocolate seal around it, and I can’t remember what it was called. I think it had a dark blue packet. Those Flakes used to end up all over the place so it was a good idea and tasted just as yummy.
I saw the 99′s (chocolate in wrappers) this summer and just assumed it was a marketing ploy. After all, Cadbury’s chocolate is a bit like pasta – it doesn’t matter what shape you put it in, it tastes the same.
Comment by Expat Mum — October 5, 2010 @ 12:01 am
[...] http://www.smittenbybritain.com/2010/10/enjoy-a-99.html [...]
Pingback by Guesting over at Smitten by Britain – the best ice cream ever! | Cheeky Toad — October 5, 2010 @ 12:02 am
It’s a Twirl in the blue packet – delicious and a LOT less messy!
And I can’t believe I forgot about the cornet piece – that’s what my Nana called them I think, and she was from Newcastle.
Comment by Helen — October 5, 2010 @ 12:16 am
Out of curiosity, I looked up the origins of the 99 name (that’s the problem with being online all the time, you’re online all the time) and apparently the half-size Flake has been around since the 1930s! There are lots of theories about the name though, none of which sounded either convincing or exciting so I won’t repeat them.
I will say that I humbly disagree with Toni, the full-size Flake is not the same as the 99, at least it didn’t seem so to us; it was quite a bit denser (maybe it’s a shrunken version?). Also, we did try the chocolate-covered ones but we felt (even Kate, who is even more of a chocoholic than I) that the coating overpowered the chocolate. Aaah.
Comment by Prodigal Wife — October 5, 2010 @ 8:29 pm
But the coating IS chocolate – and more chocolate is always a good thing in my book!
And as for the 99 flake vs. normal flake conundrum – I am on the verge of jumping on a plane to do some serious research! I think it will have to wait till November when I’m home next! I’ll let you know my findings, though I have a feeling you might be right Frances. I think the ice cream flakes might be denser than the others.
Comment by Helen — October 5, 2010 @ 10:38 pm
I think you start a 99 ice cream shop!
I’ll be there.
Comment by A 99 fan — October 6, 2010 @ 1:12 pm
Ice cream with flake in it, mmm haven’t had one in years.
Comment by Mik — October 10, 2010 @ 6:36 pm
absolutely — 99 forever! Hasn’t Kraft (US Company) bought Cadbury early this year? Anyhoo, 99s, — Love it, and wrote about it too. http://misschicago.wordpress.com/2010/06/22/1082/
Comment by MissChicago — October 15, 2010 @ 10:25 am
God help us yes. Yesterday I was in a tea room and British goods store and bought two Dairy Milks. I’ve been searching far and wide since July to find proper ones made in Birmingham. Most on American shelves are made by Hershey. Ugh!
Comment by smittenbybritain — October 16, 2010 @ 12:33 am
Let me know if you want me to bring some over next time I go back. I can mail them to you.
Comment by MissChicago — October 21, 2010 @ 11:35 am
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
[...] http://www.smittenbybritain.com/2010/10/enjoy-a-99.html [...]