There is no doubting the bizarre nature of New York City. This is the city that has a giant statue of a pigeon on a scenic pedestrian walkway; that alone should convey the spirit of NYC. But do you ever pass by or hear about a new, quirky shop and just think: “Are we serious?” That is the exact thought that went through my mind when I heard about a new ice cream parlor called Surprise Scoop where you pay $10 to get a random flavor with no indication of what it may be.
Some readers may already be scoffing and rolling their eyes at this notion which, as you’ll read, maybe should have been my response as well. But as a susceptible, bright-eyed first-year looking for any excuse to visit the city, I ate this idea up fast enough to have given myself a brain freeze. So, I messaged my friend and — after adding an incentive of a dumpling pre-game — we were off on our sweet treat adventure to Surprise Scoop in the East Village.
I was not about to let this become yet another Instagram find that I saved just to inevitably never think about it again. (I have no doubt that anyone reading this can relate to that experience.) The shop’s concept — though unorthodox — did appeal to my indecision.
When I usually walk up to that display case of ice cream to place my order, the term “second-guessing” would be an understatement for how flustered I get. When I thought of the possibility of that panic being removed from my sweet treat experience, I was eager to try it. What I did.
