EM: Chocolate Jimmies – our Jimmies are made from real chocolate and they melt on your tongue (yes, in Massachusetts we call them “Jimmies”, not “sprinkles”).

HF: Tell us a bit about how the company got started – what’s your story?

EM: My husband (then boyfriend) bought me my very first ice cream maker for my 18th birthday.  The rest is history.

EM: Vanilla.  Even with the extensive offerings that we have available, the all time best selling ice cream flavor is always vanilla.  I tend to think vanilla is so popular because it is so easily accented by any number of our mix-ins.  For example, even your basic Chocolate Chip ice cream begins with a base of vanilla ice cream.

EM: We actually had a couple of teenagers purchase a Mile High Ice Cream Pie (over 3 lbs of ice cream) and they grabbed two spoons and proceeded to eat the whole pie right here in the shop.

EM: We currently have 20 flavors of ice cream on the menu, not including the ice cream and mix-in combination possibilities.  We are constantly rotating flavors with the seasons.  In the summer months you can expect to see a lot of our fruit flavors: cantaloupe, cherry, blueberry, strawberry, banana, black raspberry, mango sorbet, margarita sorbet, coconut, etc.  In September we have Apple Ice Cream and Caramel Ice Cream, October: Pumpkin Ice Cream, November: Cranberry Ice Cream, December: Eggnog, Peppermint Stick, Rum & Ginger Snap, Valentines Day: Kahlua, Cheesecake, St. Patrick’s Day: Bailey’s Irish Cream & Guinness (yes, made with real Guinness) – so you never know what flavors you are going to find!

HF: Cup or cone? Sugar or waffle?

EM: Always a cone (ice cream is meant to be licked).  I always choose sugar or waffle, but never wafer – just my personal preference.

HF: Would win in a fight – Ben or Jerry?

EM: Neither.  They would settle it over an ice cream.

HF: On a scale of 1-10 – how much do you like ice cream?

EM: I go to 11!

HF: How come all of your employees don’t talk with an English accent?

EM: Heck, I don’t even speak with a British accent.  “England” is for my last name: Jane England. Most people think the name is supposed to be “New England” or that there is something British about the ice cream – NEITHER it is just my name – heck I am Portuguese!  However, a few years ago, the staff did speak like pirates on National Talk Like a Pirate Day.

HF: Are there any plans for vegan or non-dairy ice cream options? Do you already have some available?

EM: We do offer sorbet which is a non-dairy option.  One of our very first staff members was vegan and he ate the sorbet all of the time.  I do not have plans to make a vegan ice cream – ice cream just by its definition is not vegan.

HF: What are your hopes for Haverhill’s downtown? What else would you like to see there?

EM: I have high hopes for Haverhill’s downtown.  I am extremely optimistic with the renovations with the Hamel Mill Lofts, the Cardovan and the soon to be completed Hayes Building.  The restaurant district is thriving.  I would love to see the addition of a children’s toy store!!