#graeters

New from Graeter's, and in partnership with the Cincinnati Zoo and social media sensation Baby Fiona the Hippo, Chunky Chunky Hippo is an ice cream capitalizing on the world's love for internet hippos and ice cream.

If your love of the above-mentioned is limitless (and parallels your love of salty, buttery toffee) this limited edition treat will be a pint-sized slam dunk. If you're less likely to self-select salted caramel or other slightly-savory ice cream flavors, you may want to pass on this sweet.

The base of the ice cream is toffee; it's rich and at first a little overwhelming. Especially if your first bite includes a salted peanut, the initial bites are a bit overwhelming, although with each subsequent spoonful, you'll find yourself appreciating a more balanced flavor. Less subtle than some of Graeter's other handcrafted offerings, scoops of this hippo are as bold as Fiona herself. When taken with the chocolate caramel truffles, however, a better mix of sweet-and-salty can be enjoyed. Definitely dig around for a bite including the truffles and peanuts if it's one of your first few.

As a seasonal flavor, the hippo gimmick is probably enough to keep this flying off the shelves. Seriously, who can resist that cute face next to the Graeter's logo? It's a beautiful piece of Obi-Wan Kenobi, next-level marketing genius. 

The flavor is one that grows on you, and is yummy enough to warrant purchasing another pint after you finish your first one. Unlike other Graeter's pints, I'm not sure I could conquer a pint of the Hippo in one sitting. That said, it supports a pretty baller zoo (and by extension, world-famous baby hippo), so what do you really have to lose for trying it?

I reject your definition of breakfast and substitute my own.