Holiday on ice

Father’s Day isn’t the only holiday set for Sunday, June 20, around here. Don’t look now, but it’s also Ice Cream Soda Day, a nod to that confectionary colossus created by a Philadelphia shop owner in 1874. The buzz has it that Robert M. Green ran out of ice to keep his soft drinks cold one day and used vanilla ice cream as a substitute, hoping the customers wouldn’t notice— they did, and Green’s daily receipts increased about a hundredfold from then on. So regale Pop with one of Green’s creations this weekend in honor of the big event. On this particular occasion, Dad’s Old-Fashioned Root Beer works the best.

Hey. Better yet, you could slap some 2006 Montevina Zinfandel Port into the mix for that extra zing. No kidding. Really— I’m serious. Turns out that certain wines pair with ice cream now, too, at least if the early trend is any indication. I recently tried a glass of this Amador County, Calif., entry unchilled over a dish of vanilla and just about couldn’t believe my taste buds; both items’ sugary sensations competed for minutes on end, with the port’s brawny consistency winning out (it tastes a little like cherry syrup). In fact, ice cream makes an ideal partner with this wine—air, after all, is the main ingredient in ice cream, and wine does need to breathe. Just be prepared for the bracing effervescence, and be sure to have your sweet tooth on. Probably a good idea to avoid other foods (and rollercoaster rides) with this, as well, lest the guest of honor suffer an upset tummy on his big day.

This one’s available for $16.99 at BevMo and other stores, and you’ll probably want some around anyway (it’s great for cooking, like its voluptuous cousin Sherry). Come to think of it, you might want to pick up a bottle now, in case it rains. We’re talkin’ Father’s Day here; it goes without saying that Dad’s worth more than just any ol’ Port in the storm.