Both this year and the MBIP Year of Pizza are just about over and I have no idea how this time has slipped by. In fact, ever since I’ve been doing this blog I kind of feel like a hamster on a wheel that never stops running. Days run into weeks, the weeks morph into months and before you know it, a year has gone by. This blog is over two years old and I was reminded of that when I got this Tweet on Twitter from my friend, Liz:
Liz and I met at Jimmy’s Bar way back when this blog was still in it’s infancy. We first met online when I lived in New York and we planned on meeting when I moved here and that’s what we did over two years ago! I couldn’t believe that much time had lapsed and then I found out that Liz, her husband Andy and their daughter, Genevieve are moving to Switzerland in January. I decided we should hang out before she leaves the country and another two years goes by! So Liz is the special guest star on today’s pizza journey, which takes place at Emack & Bolio’s Ice Cream shop. Pizza at an ice cream shop? Just keep on scrolling and you’ll find out what’s going on here!
Here we are at Emack & Bolio's, Peoria's best ice cream parlor located on restaurant row on Prospect Avenue in Peoria Heights. Let's go in and see what's happening in here.
I see a familiar face behind the counter over there...
It's MBIP pal and co-owner (along with Jim Maxwell) of Emack & Bolio's, Tim Hennessey! Tim's holding this week's pizza, a frozen ice cream pizza! As far as I know, Emack & Bolio's is the only place in Peoria to offer up an ice cream pizza and I had to try it on this Year of Pizza tour.
The pizza has a brownie crust with vanilla ice cream serving as the foundation and fudge, marshmallow and candy sprinkles are added as toppings. It looks great and I can't wait to dig in. Tim says we need to let it sit out a little bit before we slice it, so let's take that time to take a look around in here.
Here's Morgan, who's working with Tim today and will assist with the pizza in a little bit. What a great smile she's got!
As you can see they've got a large selection of soft drinks to choose from in here, but there's no beer and I really like to have a beer with my pizza, even if it's an ice cream pizza. Oh well, I have a solution to this problem and keep scrolling to find out what that solution is.
Tables line the wall opposite the front counter and there's more in the front dining area to sit at and enjoy your ice cream at.
I looked out the window to see if I could see Liz, it's seven minutes after three and we were supposed at meet at 3PM. Of course I always show up a half an hour early, so whenever someone's a little late, I always get paranoid that they're not going to show up. She should be here soon. Let's just keep looking around in the meantime.
The walls in here are covered with rock 'n' roll posters and photos including The Beatles, Pink Floyd and several from The Grateful Dead for all you Deadheads out there.
There's more rock posters over her including The Who, The Beatles, The Police and an infamous Rolling Stones poster...
From their Altamont free concert that went horribly wrong. Gee, you hire the Hell's Angels for security, pay them in beer and then have a ton of bad acid flowing around at the concert. Who'd have thunk that something would go so terribly awry?
Okay, it's now 3:17PM and I wonder if Liz has forgotten about this. I may have to eat the ice cream pizza all alone. How sad!
Ice cream is not the only sweet treat in Emack & Bolio's, as you can see they have a huge candy counter with freshly made candy inside. Perfect for the sweet tooth on your Christmas list.
And if you need a dessert for your holiday dinner, there's ice cream cakes and pies in this case over here.
Stocking stuffer alert, but if you want one of these for Christmas, stop by today, they're closed Christmas Eve and Christmas day, which is the way it should be. Good for them for shutting down on the holidays!
Even on cold winter days people flock in here for the unique, one of a kind Emack's ice cream.
Tim and Morgan get busy, but I have the day off and can just take pictures and mock them. Mock, mock, mock! Life is pretty good right now! Mock, mock! Mock!
It's getting close to 3:30PM and still no Liz. This could be the first time I've been stood up on the blog. Sob!
The ice cream pizza has rested long enough outside of the freezer and Morgan has begun the process of slicing it up.
It looks really good and I'm anxious to try this frozen pizza pie!
And as I go to sit at the table, who's shown up but our special guest star of the day, LIz! She apologized for being late and said it's tough to show up on time when you have a two-year-old daughter at home.
And here's a photo of Liz's two-year-old daughter, Genevieve. LIz, Genevieve and her husband Andy are moving to Switzerland in January and Liz has started a blog that's going to document the move and you can check that out here: An American In Basel. I'm looking forward to following along and living vicariously through their adventure of moving to another country!
Alright, it's pizza pie time! Tim is serving up two slices from the frozen pie.
Wow, it looks great, but one thing is missing...
Beer! I smuggled in two cans of Budweiser and now all is well in my pizza world!
Wow, this is so good! A really sweet and unique way to enjoy pizza pie!
LIz loved it and is sorry that there's not an Emack & Bolio's in Switzerland. Enjoy it while you can, Liz!
Morgan's friend Savannah stopped by and they're enjoying a slice of the frozen pie at the counter over here.
Wow, that was so good ! A real sweet treat, I just wish I had brought more beer!
It's a little hard to see, but LIz had a picture on her phone of a pizza that they had eaten in Switzerland. She said the pizza there was good, but the same can't be said of that country's attempts at Mexican food. Don't worry Liz, I'll send you a care package from Los Jimadores after you move!
Okay, time for the next day cold pizza challenge, the first time that the pizza has been cold two days in a row! And yes, so far the Scott Turley craft beer remains unopened in the craft beer corner of the MBIP fridge. i think I'll uncork that tonight!
It's delicious! Thanks to Tim and Morgan for serving up a delicious ice cream pizza pie and to LIz for being the special guest star. Best of luck to her and her family on their move to Switzerland, don't forget to check out her blog and follow along as they make their move from Peoria to Switzerland! We'll see you all tomorrow!
Pizza Rating
Four Chef Boyardees—The best ice cream pizza in Peoria...and I think the only ice cream pizza in Peoria! Remember, if you want to try this, call first, it takes a day or two for them to prepare one. Perfect for a birthday party and you can reserve their party room in the back for free! Just call and make a reservation.
Emack & Bolio's
4534 N. Prospect Rd.
Peoria Heights
309-682-3530
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