Annie’s Ice Cream Parlour – Bathurst, NSW
*slurp~ slurp~*
Amelie has one scoop of vanilla ice cream on a cone all to herself?! Yes way! And can you believe the ice cream is FREE? Thanks to Annie’s! Isn’t she spoilt or what?
Clockwise L to R: Bright pink signage of Annie's; colourful ice cream in different flavours; Annie's ice cream parlour transcends you back to 1950s
The Annie’s Ice Cream Parlour (aka Annie’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlour) in Bathurst is a MUST visit. Right on the corner of George and Church St, the bright pink signage of Annie’s is hard to be missed. The outdoor tables shaded with baby pink and green sun umbrellas are occupied with children, licking their colorful ice cream gleefully.
I am in awe once stepped inside the ice cream parlour which is overwhelmingly covered in the shades of pink. I feel like inside a giant marshmallow; the wall, the guitar, the clock, the memorabilia, the diner seatings, and even the waitress’ uniforms – PINK!
clockwise L to R: pink guitar hanging on the wall; friendly Annie's helper ready to take your order; mint choc and cherry ice cream; pink is the new black
Elvis is rock-n-rollin’ “Hound Dog” in the background, while we admiring and drooling over tray after tray of ice cream in different colours and flavours, like the rainbow. The colourful sugary sight makes me happy instantly!
I am usually very good at making decisions but when come to choosing ice cream flavours over the counter, it’s got me stumped.
All the ice cream at Annie’s are home made, the old fashioned way; with flavours cleverly named after some local locations, eg. Sofala Gold (named after nearby Sofala, a town where gold was found) which is vanilla ice cream with honeycomb through it; and Bridle Track (a rocky road track runs from Duramana, northwest of Bathurst, to the old mining town of Hill End) which is a delicious rocky road chocolate ice cream with marshmallow, turkish delight and choc chip in it.
Double scoop of Licorice and Cherry
I eventually take the risk and settled with double scoops of Licorice (or liquorice), and Cherry. (can’t remember the fancy name for the Cherry ice cream)
I am slowly growing on licorice as I get older. The tingly numbness in my mouth after chewing an excessive of licorice lollies is something that I am strangely addicted to. The licorice ice cream has great aniseed flavour but not too strong, and brain freeze is probably the only numbness you would get. The cherry ice cream combos rather well with the licorice, it is sweet with fresh cherry pieces inside; not those fake red cherries for cake decorations.
Double scoop of Caramel and Sofala Gold
Big D gets the double scoop of Sofala Gold and Caramel. The caramel is very sweet and creamy but the sofala gold is seriously the one to die for. The vanilla is not as sweet after pairing with the caramel; but the golden honeycombs crunch on every bite like a party inside my mouth. I should have listened and went for the Sofala Gold too, at least now I have something to aim for next time I am back in Bathurst.
“Is that your dog outside?” the lady behind the counter asked Big D.
“No, is my friend’s dog,” he replied.
“Oh ok, then she will get a free doggie ice cream… for free. It is a tradition, all dogs visit Annie’s get free ice cream.”
Yes, dog eats free at Annie’s! Not even the kids get free ice cream, but dogs! There is a billboard in the parlour with photos of dogs visited Annie’s happily licking ice cream.
Big D comes back with the good news, and in The Pom goes to claim the free ice cream for Amelie.
Clockwise L to R: one scoop of vanilla ice cream, free of charge for the pooch; Amelie enjoys her own ice cream cone; Amelie's perfect licking skill with no drips; Amelie has a white mustache;
The Pom is a very practical man and orders double choc, and caramel. I can’t emphasise more but rich, rich and rich. When the lady at the counter said “doggie” ice cream, we thought it would be just a small scoop of ice cream in a cup or something for Amelie to lick it, just for fun. But woah… The Pom comes back with one big scoop of vanilla ice cream on a cone! Just for the pooch!
Amelie obviously loves her ice cream and keeps licking it non stop. At least now I can enjoy my own ice cream without having a pair of puppy dog eyes staring at me the whole time to make me feeling guilty. “Does dog get brain freeze?” I was wondering and have to take the ice cream off Amelie when it is almost 3/4 gone!
If you are in Bathurst, make sure you bring your pooch! Annie will definitely have your pooch spoilt. Just like Annie and her best companion dog, Sandy…
Annie's Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlour Corner of George and Church St Bathurst, NSW 2795 P: (02) 6331 8088
A Table For Two (ATFT) is Billy Law's food blog that features best eats in Sydney and around the world with drool-worthy food photography to salivate your appetite. I also throw in a smidgen of my food and travel photography for good measure. Billy Law also happened to be a contestant on MasterChef Australia 2011. 
Some of those flavours combinations look real nice, though I find the pairing of liquorice and cherry a unique combo.
Love the concept of the doggie ice cream. Some very cute photos
Did anyone dare try it to see what it tasted like?
aw! so so cute! was amelie named after the movie?
this place looks awesome. I love the 50′s decor! great photos, as usual sir
Mmmm…the aniseed flavour looks great! How nice of them to give Amelie a free scoop! That’s good ol’fashioned service!
Wow, the flavours look great – would love to try the licorice (and beautiful photos, as usual
)
Ooh woow what a cute lil place and what a pinkfest! Hee hee lucky Amelie! Though too bad she didn’t get to choose her own flavoues cos I would be going for the Sofala Gold and the blue one! (bubblegum?)
the sofala gold looks amazing! yum!!
the place reminds me of Grease! It looks very quirky, retro and fun
Betty’s last blog post – Sahara
Wow those flavors look amazing, my mouth is watering, and so glad to pooch had her own cone, how cute!
Jenna @ Newlyweds’s last blog post – Menu Plan Monday
how cute is Amelie! and what a lucky dog to get her own scoop of vanilla
(i would’ve been all over that Sofala Gold like it was the real deal. lovelovelovehoneycombbbb!)
shez’s last blog post – peking vip restaurant
@Simon: the ice cream for Amelie is a basic vanilla ice cream, nothing wrong with it. I am sure I can lick it afterwards, if I am desperate.
@chocolatesuze: Amelie is sure named after the movie, my all time favorite.
@Lisa: Hehehe yes, imagine Olivia Newton John and John Trovolta doing a dance off “you are the one that i want, ohh ooh oohhhh…”
@Peter G: That place does have its charm, thats why is popular with the locals and tourists.
@lili – pikelet & pie: Thanks, the licorice is something first time I tried and definitely will get some again.
@FFichiban: I like bubblegum in Paddlepop!
@Betty: Yep, Grease lightning!!!
@Jenna @ Newlyweds: She is one spoilt lucky dog!
@shez: Yeah I definitely will go back for the Sofala Gold and Bridle Track!
lucky amelie! have heard about annie’s and always wanted to go. let me know the next time you head over
Helen (grabyourfork)’s last blog post – Surf Spot Cafe, The Entrance
AMAAAAZZZZING icecream! Sofala Gold, its what dreams are made of. We would drive hours just for the experience, it’s a must!
Annie’s was introduced to me by my husband, he grew up in
Bathurst and now lives in Sydney. All his friends have grown up and
moved away, the only thing that brings us back to Bathurst is the
ice cream. Now our daughter and dog Masie enjoy the sweet
treat.
It is the BEST ice cream in Bathurst and probably Australia!! I go there as often as I can!! Yummmmmo =)