Pro Athletes, Ice Cream and Low Taxes – Middleton Has It All
Like the old chicken vs. the egg routine, a drive through the rolling countryside of Middleton might have you wonder what came first: the cow or the ice cream. If there’s one thing that this once-sleepy suburban town just 20 minutes north of Boston is known for, it’s the ice cream at Richardson’s that has kids and adults salivating all over the North Shore. Continue reading Destination: Middleton
Richardson’s president Dave Daniels gets a kick out of the ice cream business.
Making ice cream isn’t just a job for Dave Daniels, it’s his life. The new president of Richardson’s Ice Cream in Middleton (and Reading at Jordon’s Furniture) recently sat down with us to talk about the family business, runaway cows, and frequent kicks to the chest.
What’s the hardest part about milking a cow? Once in a while, they kick. That hurts. If they really get you, it’ll leave a nice black-and-blue mark. People who milk them every day are used to it. They see it coming. They kick a lot.
The Richardson family has owned this farm since 1695. You grew up in the farmhouse and started working at Richardson’s as a child. What’s your earliest memory of this place? Chasing down the cows. They used to get loose all the time. We’d have to get some grain and shake it in a bucket so they’d follow us back to the barn. Sometimes, we’d get behind them and push them in one direction. But they’re fast when they want to be. If they’re scared they’ll run. They’re a lot faster than me—it’s not even close.
How do you come up with new flavors of ice cream? New flavors are like specials in a restaurant: you throw ingredients together based on whatever is in your head and it usually comes out pretty good. Flavor companies also come in with ideas and new extracts. We put them together with other ingredients and then we’ve got a new flavor. Every time we run a new batch, we always taste some to make sure the flavor is perfect. We’re working on a new flavor that has a whole bunch of candy in it. We might call it “Candy Shop.”
How do you stay fit eating all this ice cream every day? Just a spoonful at a time. This is a hands-on job but I try to focus on quality control, more or less putting out fires.
Any celebrities come here? We had the premier of China, Wen Jiabao, come four years ago. There were 125 police officers here for protection. We gave him a set of samples and he helped make the ice cream by pouring chocolate chips into the tubs. I also remember scooping as a child and Jim Rice came to the window. That was pretty cool.
What’s the best part of your job? When I hand children ice cream and see how happy they are, that’s what makes it so much fun. Everyone’s happy when they’re eating ice cream. —Jack Morris
Title: First Annual SHOP Middleton
Location: Middleton Green – Middleton, MA
Link out: Click here
Description: Visit the town of Middleton Saturday, May 16th, 2009 for the First Annual SHOP Middleton, Buy Local Day.
Shop local businesses at this town-wide event. Participating businesses will feature special discounts, samples and more!
Entertainment and food will be offered at Middleton Green AND E.A. Stevens Insurance will be hosting a red Soc Ticket Raffle , to enter SHOP Middleton. (Make a purchase from any local businesses, then take your receipt to the E.A. Stevens Insurance table located at Middleton Green.
For more information, please visit: www.middletonbot.com
Sponsored by the Middleton Board of Trade.
(Rain Date: June 6th, 2009)
Date: 2009-05-16
Title: Grand Opening at Vero Salon & Spa
Location: Vero Salon & Spa – 1 Central Street – Middleton
Description: All are invited to attend the Grand Opening celebration at Vero Salon and Spa, Sunday, March 29th, 2009 from 12pm-5pm.
Express complimentary services and consultations, a door raffle, champagne, desserts, and other prizes.
For more information, please call: (978) 750-4004.
Start Time: 12:00
Date: 2009-03-29
End Time: 17:00
Title: 5th Annual Reid’s Ride
Location: Stage Fort Park – Gloucester
Link out: Click here
Description: The 5th Annual Reid’s Ride will take place Sunday, July 19th, 2009.
The ride is a 28 mile bike-a-thon that starts in Lynnfield rides through Middleton, Danvers, Beverly, Manchester and ends at stage Fort park in Gloucester. The ride is in support of the fight to Eliminate cancers striking young adults.
To ride, volunteer, or otherwise be a part of this event, please contact Director Lorraine Sacco at: (781) 632-2025.
For more information, please visit: www.reidsaccofoundtion.org or www.reidsride.org
Date: 2009-07-19
Title: Grand Opening of Mason & Madison, gifts with style
Location: Mason & Madison – Central Street – Middleton
Description: All are cordially invited to attend the GRAND OPENING of MASON & MADISON… gifts with style.
Liz White of Mason & Madison celebrates the opening of her first retail store in Middleton with a Grand Opening Soiree on Sunday, March 29th, 2009 from 12pm-5pm.
Join Mason & Madison in commemorating this auspicious occasion and enjoy complimentary food and drinks at the new beautiful downtown Middleton store location.
Be one of the first lucky 50 guests to arrive and receive a SWAG BAG filled to the brim with fabulous freebies and specials.
Bring a friend, all are welcome to share in an afternoon of celebration.
Please RSVP to: liz@masonandmadison.com, or call: (978) 777-8883.
Start Time: 12:00
Date: 2009-03-29
End Time: 17:00
Richardson’s Ice Cream, Middleton, MA Continue reading BEST ICE CREAM
Gaven’s, Middleton Continue reading Best Steakhouse
