[From Nikki]: I haven’t had much time to cook/bake blog-worthy recipes lately, so I asked my husband, Ben, to serve as a guest writer and post about his expertise…milkshakes. Anytime we go out to eat, Ben searches the menu to see if the restaurant offers a milkshake. I’ve learned, from observation, that he has acquired this practice from his father. Of course, he won’t order a milkshake every time (as long as I am there), but he has had his fair share and I thought it would be fun if he gave us a quick review of his faves. After reading it, I know he left some out… but, with the amount of milkshakes (or variations thereof) he’s had, it would probably take too much of my Blogger memory for him to include them all. 🙂
Soon I’ll be back with some new recipes. We have Ben’s doctoral graduation party coming up, which should follow with some good posts, and I’ll hopefully have some pictures of cakes I’m going to be decorating in my Wilton Cake Decorating class (I started last night). So, enjoy Ben’s review below…and check back soon for some more recipes!
[From Dr. Ben]: I’m a self-proclaimed milkshake connoisseur. I am speaking from years of experience. Hundreds if not thousands of milkshakes have coated my tongue. I have put together a list of milkshakes that are somewhat accessible to all. Obviously, mom-and-pop stores will carry the stock and contain the creamiest shake on earth. That said, I would like to offer some of my favorite shakes, starting with my favorite:
1) Oberweis—I recommend the “frost bite.” This is a robust shake with a high amount of cream and fresh ingredients.
2) Chick fil a—Though noted for their chicken sandwiches, their shakes are quite refreshing and very creamy. Topped off with whipped cream and cherry, this shake comes in just a few flavors, oreo and vanilla.
3) Claim Jumper—Most do not have room for a milkshake after the meal, so I order mine at the beginning. This shake, in keeping with Claim Jumper’s tradition, is quite large. Unlike others, this restaurant does not sacrifice quality for quantity.
4) Chili’s—I have only partaken of a Chilis’ milkshake just a few times, but I still put it in the top tier. It’s more of a milkshake/malt than anything else. The strong yet savory chocolate is well worth the dime.
5) Dairy Queen—I grew up loving Dairy Queen, but, as time went on, so did my palette. Their milkshakes simply are not consistent. At times, the shake will be runny or filled with too much extras. I only stop at the Queen if I’m on the road and there is nothing for miles.
6) Burger King—I’ve had many a milkshake at the King in my day. On occasion, the shake will be decent. However, most of the time the shake is simply too “thin.”
7) Wendy’s–I love Wendy’s. They are the standard (outside of Chick fil a). Their frosty is quite reliable and soothes the taste buds. Typically, Nikki and I get them on trips. It fits well in my cup holder.
8) McDonald’s—The McFlurry has begun to outpace some of the fast-food chains. They are inventing more and more creative ingredients. I still however pause at the drive thru simply because they are less consistent than most places. You never know what you are going to get.
My personal fave is the Chick-fil-a milkshake! Next best things to cupcakes!
Well done, Ben. I remember your getting a free milkshake at Chili’s in Charlotte. I think it was something like, “Well, we only do those for people’s birthdays . . . [waiter pauses and Ben looks at him, unfazed] . . . but I could probably get them to make one for you.”
And then for some reason he says it will be free??
And Jeff says, “I’ll take one too,” not because he wanted one, necessarily, but because it was free.
I like the Frosty best out of all fast food places. I’ve never had an Oberweis one, but I’ve heard that’s a good place. But I agree that the mom-and-pop places that use real ice cream and stuff are the best!
I think you should do a regular feature of some sort here on Nikki’s blog. 🙂
Oh my gosh, all those milkshakes are TOTALLY drool-worthy. That one on the top picture is to die for, though. mmmm….
btw – yes, I play softball, but I coach baseball. 🙂
If you haven’t tried Shakes at Pot-Belly you should…they have really good ones!
Very informative review of milkshakes! 🙂 I wanted to ask permission to use the image of the Dairy Queen Blizzard image you used in this post, for a layout I’m making for the fanlisting I’m building? 🙂 Thank you for your time!
Ai – You do not need my permission for the photo. I took it, myself, from a Google image search. 🙂
Thanks for checking out my blog!
If I may weigh in on the discussion – I’d like to add my personal favorite to the list: Johnny Rocket’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake. All I can say is “Wow!”
Dude, what about McDonald’s? The chocolate shake, that plain ol’ shake is a standby much like the Wendy’s Frosty. Consistent, flavorful and always a welcomed co-pilot in my ride, well, at least when my wife’s not around, because “milkshakes are bad for you”. To that, we say, “yeah, whatever…”