If you grew up eating freezer burned or soggy ice cream sandwiches out of a cardboard box, then I have news. (Don’t feel too badly now about it now, not to invoke therapy speak, but when you know better, you do better.)

I say this because there’s a Tricycle Ice Cream storefront on Battey Street (the former home of North Bakery) in Providence and it’s delightful.

Now I’ve had their ice cream sandwiches before — they have after all been around since 2014, having started as a tricycle vending cart or an ice cream bike that could usually be tracked down on Saturdays in the nice weather at the Hope Street Farmers Market or on Sundays at the Providence Flea over on South Water.

If you too have previously sampled their Mint or Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, you already know that they use top shelf ingredients in making the different ice cream fillings and various cookie “breads” including choc espresso, pretzel shortbread, or fruity pebbles. (Can you believe when these sandwiches were 1st sold on the streets of NYC during the late 1890’s, they were ice cream wrapped simply in two pieces of paper?)

What took me by surprise initially was how much Tricycle has expanded their offerings since opening the brick and mortar shop about three-ish years ago.

We are talking ice cream tacos (which I’d never ever heard of before), sorbet push pops, drumsticks, and even a donut i.c. sandwich here, folks.

When I walked in the first time and spotted a huge chalkboard menu hanging from the ceiling, I started to panic and blank out, having no idea what to order.

The person who was helping me knew and thankfully handed over the I-Pad version which was way easier for me to navigate. (A handful of treats were already sold out for the day at that point by the way.)

Also: Those eschewing dairy these days will be thrilled to know they offer a nut-based ice cream sammie.

Order in advance online or at the counter, whichever floats your boat.

Find Tricycle Ice Cream at 70 Battey Street in Providence, RI. They are open Thursday thru Sunday. Check their social and/or site for current hours.

As always, if you go on an ice cream run after reading this, please let them know you were inspired by Patty J and PattyJ.com.