A Visit to Ice Cream Heaven

The sudden, bright taste of mint melted on my tongue, unexpectedly refreshing. I didn’t quite know what to think of the flavor, but I immediately recognized one thing – I loved it.

“People say that our mint chocolate chip ice cream is unique, not like other mint ice creams you might have had,” said Sarah Wicks, sister of Emily Phillips, who owns the Red Wagon Creamery food cart with her husband Stuart.

Unique is an appropriate word to describe their handmade mint chocolate chip ice cream. The flavor brought to mind a crisp mint julep or the lively taste of iced tea garnished with fresh mint sprigs.

The smooth, white color appealed to me more than the stereotypically pale green color of your average, everyday mint ice cream. Dark chunks of chocolate peppered the creamy landscape, creating a pleasant visual sensation. Clearly, these ice cream makers know what they’re doing.

Emily and Stuart Phillips opened their ice cream cart last year. Phillips, who has worked as a chef in New Zealand, was looking for something new and ice cream seemed the logical conclusion.

“I just really like ice cream,” Phillips said, peering out from her cart on a sunny Tuesday afternoon. I found this statement to be wholeheartedly relatable.

Nestled in the corner of a parking lot containing Healthy Pet and PartyCart, Red Wagon Creamery gives off a neighborhood lemonade stand vibe. A shaded collection of tables and chairs complements the booth, extending an offering to sit down and stay a while.

The cart itself stands out with a cheery, bright red sign. During my visit to the cart, a pair of college-aged girls ordered ice cream cones, followed by a grandfather and granddaughter duo.

Phillips said that Red Wagon Creamery splits its time between its primary location and the Lane County Farmer’s Market, where the handmade ice cream fits perfectly with the organic produce and local atmosphere.

This, along with the deliciousness of the ice cream, ultimately drew me in to Red Wagon Creamery. I prefer local, homemade flavors because they tend to be much more memorable and genuine in taste and feel. As a college student, I usually can’t afford to practice all-local shopping, but the prices at Red Wagon Creamery are reasonable - $2.75 for a generous single scoop. Plus, the vibrant taste of the ice cream makes it worth the occasional indulgence.

Seven flavors are currently offered, but the flavors are interchanged seasonally. With clever names like “Li’l Almond Annie” and “Not-So-Plain-Jane-Vanilla,” the flavors easily charm and I found myself tempted to try them all.

I would love to go back to this food cart, but the obscure location may deter me from visiting any time soon. It ventures far from campus and downtown, making it less accessible for students. Additionally, I found Phillips to be somewhat aloof and unfriendly, although this may simply be the result of a long day in the hot sun.

Regardless, I won’t forget that lingering taste of mint anytime soon and the memory of the flavor will probably draw me back on the next hot summer day we encounter.

Red Wagon Creamery can be found at the intersection of 28^th St. and Friendly St. in Eugene, Ore. They are open Monday from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lane County Farmer’s Market and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the primary location, Wednesday and Thursday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Springfield Farmer’s Market, and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lane County Farmer’s Market. More information can be found at their website, Red Wagon Creamery.