Cold Storage: The Life and Death of Tom Carvel

Prohibition Means America Screams for Ice Cream


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This week we'll delve into the following:

  • The 19th-century French wine industry was almost destroyed by an American bug, leading Greece to bail them out with raisins until Greece went bankrupt--with the Carvels forced to leave for America.
  • Prohibition turned ice cream from a sweet treat to a booming empire as people needed their sugar fix--breweries like Anheuser-Busch and Yuengling began to sell rocky road instead of beer.
  • By the end of Prohibition in 1933 the demand for ice cream decreased, though ice cream itself was firmly entrenched in our way of life … just in time for Tom Carvel to be riding his truck through Hartsdale, NY.
  • In addition to ice cream, how did the Greek community corner the market on diners?

“Cold Storage” is hosted by Heather Quinlan, head of Canvasback Kid Productions, and Paul Finnegan, creator/host of the acclaimed podcast CenterPieceNY. Episode Two includes interviews with Tom Nealon, author of "Food Fights & Culture Wars" and Liz Pristourtis, owner of the Parkway Restaurant in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn.


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Cold Storage: The Life and Death of Tom CarvelBy Heather Quinlan

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