Frozen custard caused a sensation at the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago. Although similar to ice cream, custard contains more cream and less milk, along with egg yolk and butterfat, which gives it a smoother texture and richer taste than ice cream.[1] Following the fair, Wisconsinites brought it north, opening custard stands in the greater Milwaukee area, and eventually making it the unofficial dessert for the dairy state of Wisconsin.[2] In the city of Milwaukee there are four landmark custard stands. Gilles, located at 76th Street and Bluemound Road, has served the Milwaukee community since 1938.[3] Its south side rival, Leon’s Frozen Custard, is located at 27th Street and Oklahoma Avenue. Leon’s opened its doors on May 1, 1942, and remains family-owned and operated.[4] Kopp’s Frozen Custard, whose headquarters is now at 76th Street and Layton Avenue, was founded in 1950 at 60th and Appleton and has opened two additional locations outside Milwaukee.[5] Finally, Kitt’s Frozen Custard at 70th and Capitol Drive has served north side residents since 1950.[6] While there are fewer custard stands outside Milwaukee, there are several suburban options that locals continue to visit: Oscar’s in West Allis, Pop’s Custard in Menomonee Falls, the Kiltie Drive-In in Oconomowoc, and Hefner’s Custard in Cedarburg, all of which feature a classic American menu of custard, hamburgers, hot dogs, and an assortment of fried foods.[7]
Footnotes [+]
- ^ Nancy Bagget, The All-American Dessert Book (New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005), 284-287.
- ^ Harva Hachten and Terese Allen, The Flavor of Wisconsin: An Informal History of Food and Eating in the Badger State, 2nd ed. (Madison, WI: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 2009), 151.
- ^ Gilles Frozen Custard, last accessed October 24, 2016.
- ^ The World Famous Leon’s, Home of the World’s Finest Frozen Custard, last accessed October 24, 2016.
- ^ Kopp’s Frozen Custard, last accessed October 24, 2016.
- ^ Kitt’s Frozen Custard on Capitol Drive, Facebook, last accessed October 24, 2016.
- ^ Frozen Custard Guide, onmilwaukee.com, last updated August 8, 2016; last accessed October 24, 2016.
For Further Reading
Bagget, Nancy. The All-American Dessert Book. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005.
Hachten, Harva, and Terese Allen. The Flavor of Wisconsin: An Informal History of Food and Eating in the Badger State. 2nd ed. Madison, WI: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 2009.
McCann, Kathleen, and Robert Tanzilo. Milwaukee Frozen Custard. n.p.: The History Press, 2016.
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