One spot on the Jersey Shore you won't find Ron Ron Juice or a Snookie

Tasti D-Lite has been around since 1987.  You can hardly walk down a NYC street without coming across a store selling this ice cream alternative in one of their 100+ flavors.  Tasti has been a personal favorite of ours for years, and despite the recent shift of popularity to frozen yogurt, we continue to take Tasti breaks and welcome their new flavors (German Chocolate Cake and Oreo's and Cream are our favorites.)

Tasti D-Lite's are often sold as franchises, and occupy small shops that can only handle 4 flavors at a time, 2 of which are always vanilla and chocolate (or chocolate pudding.)  There are only a few Tasti's that are large enough to sit in to enjoy your ice cream on a hot day.  Columbus Circle, their NY flagship, is probably the biggest one, and they also allow you to make your own flavor if you don't like what they have 'on tap' that day.  The Murray Hill 3rd and 30th location is quite large as well, with a giant selection of bulk candy and outdoor seating.

The problem occurs once you leave Manhattan.  Tasti's are extremely hard to come by!  There are only two in Brooklyn (at least 2 that I know of have closed down, or were bought over by The Lite Choice), and none in any of the other boroughs.  On a nice summer day, sometimes all you want is a light ice cream cone to eat at the beach.  This weekend I went to Long Branch, NJ over the weekend with guest stars Melissa and Christina. After hours on the ferry and in the sun, we needed a snack.  But what can you eat when it's 100 degrees on the beach?  As we walked toward the 7-11, in front of us arose the most beautiful site I've ever seen in Jersey (after Snookster's pouf, of course.)  A giant, stand-alone Tasti D-Lite shop!

It was the best find ever - with giant ice creams on the store and 4 benches in front to sit and enjoy your ice cream.  We went inside to find that this particular Tasti also served ices and a vast array of hard ice cream.  They had 6 flavors on tap to choose from, and we were quite excited.  Even though Tasti tastes the same no matter where you go, to be able to eat it at an actual Tasti restaurant was an extra special treat!  Why they don't open more of these ice cream shops is beyond me - perhaps it's a business venture for the Cjaps in the future!

 Next time you're down the shore, make sure to stop by this extra special Tasti, located at 588 Ocean Avenue.  Or, if you're afraid of getting attacked by the fake tans, you can visit any one of the 23 remaining shops in NYC.