Chocolate Lover’s Kitchen Sink at Beaches & Cream
On our Walt Disney World honeymoon, Sarah and I set out to eat an entire Kitchen Sink at Beaches & Cream by ourselves. Back in those days, we were cocky about our abilities, so certain of our talents that we documented the whole ordeal with a time lapse video. Since then, seven years have passed. We’ve gotten older–but no wiser. Our metabolisms have slowed. Ah, wistfulness for those bygone days of our youth.
They say the average career expectancy of a competitive ice cream eater is less than 3 years. After that, the grind takes a toll on the body, stamina decreases, and you lose that spring in your step. Actually, they say that about NFL running backs, but there aren’t any pro ice cream eating analysts, so I think we can go ahead and infer that “they” would say the same about competitive ice cream eaters.
Eager to recapture the glory of that Kitchen Sink experience, I had the bright idea to try the Chocolate Lover’s Kitchen Sink, a variation on the original. When I shared my idea with Sarah, she responded: “You can’t be serious; you got sick eating loaded fries just last week!” “This is one of your greatest ideas and I don’t see anything that could possibly go wrong!” And with that, we ventured over to Beaches & Cream at Disney’s Beach Club Resort…
Those familiar with the regular Kitchen Sink are likely aware that it’s a somewhat eclectic mix of toppings. In the past, we’ve noted that it’s not a dessert that is “good” so much as it is “good fun.” It’s definitely a novelty, but it’s a fun one, which is why we enjoyed it and recommend it.
My hope with the Chocolate Lover’s Kitchen Sink was that it’d combine the novelty of the regular Kitchen Sink, but also feature a more sensible lineup of toppings. The hope was that it wouldn’t be the ice cream equivalent of a Suicide Soda. After all, this isn’t 7 years ago–we are serious adults now.
The Chocolate Lover’s Kitchen Sink contains three scoops of chocolate ice cream, three scoops of cookies & cream ice cream, and two scoops vanilla ice cream. (Exactly the number of scoops as the normal Kitchen Sink.)
It also features two brownies, two Milky Way candy bars, Oreos, dark and white chocolate shavings, chocolate chips & sprinkles, hot fudge & caramel syrup, and an entire can of whipped cream.
We found this more conservative slate of toppings was much more complementary in terms of flavor. Maybe it’s just me, but there’s something about coffee ice cream that clashes with bananas and pineapple, which also don’t taste the best alongside Oreos and orange gummies.
The flavors meshed much better in the Chocolate Lover’s version, although I still wouldn’t say this is my ideal ice cream sundae. There’s a ton going on, and while it’s a better marriage of flavors, it’s far from ideal.
After only a few bites, Sarah ‘threw in her spoon’ for that very reason. She pointed out that it just wasn’t that good, and she’d rather save her appetite and the calories for food she actually enjoyed (our afternoon plan was grazing Food & Wine).
She was most certainly right about the Chocolate Lover’s Kitchen Sink, but due to my extreme frugality sense of perseverance in the face of adversity, I refused to give up on our noble mission. So onward I trudged, mediocre bite after mediocre bite.
The biggest offender for me was the entire can of whipped cream. There’s so much whipped cream that it overpowers everything else, and it’s difficult to locate the ice cream under that sea of whipped cream.
In retrospect, we should’ve asked for this with a half or quarter-can of whipped cream. It’s obvious the whole can aspect is a gimmick, we just forgot how much whipped cream is in a can.
Even setting aside the whipped cream, the Chocolate Lover’s Kitchen Sink left something to be desired. The ice cream used is off-the-shelf Edy’s, and I guess after spoiling ourselves with the stuff at Ample Hills (and elsewhere), we’ve become ice cream snobs?
Don’t get me wrong–even Edy’s ice cream is better than no ice cream, but there was nothing that really gave the sundae an edge, flavor-wise. There were a lot of toppings, but they didn’t come together to enhance the flavor. I guess I expected a bit more? The No Way Jose uses Edy’s, and I remember it being excellent.
As you’ll see from the “after” photo, there’s still a decent amount floating around at the bottom of our Kitchen Sink. It’s my position that this is 90% whipped cream that has liquified thanks to the presence of (10%) melted ice cream.
I’d further argue that this substance was unfit for human consumption. Accordingly, I conquered the Chocolate Lover’s Kitchen Sink by way of consuming its edible components. If you wish to challenge this proclamation, feel free to go through the appeals process…via the comments below, I guess?
Honestly, even the Chocolate Lover’s Kitchen Sink is not that good and is more about the novelty of the experience than anything else. We had sundaes at Ample Hills Creamery a couple of times earlier in the trip, and while I was plodding through this Kitchen Sink, I couldn’t help but think we could be having a cheaper and better ice cream experience across the Boardwalk.
With better ice cream available at Ample Hills, and better food available inside at Crew’s Cup Lounge, it’s a bit surprising that Beaches & Cream maintains its popularity. I realize some of this is because it combines good food and good/novel ice cream creations in a really fun atmosphere, but I cannot help but think that years of internet hype (and we’re as guilty of this as anyone) have helped fuel this fire.
All of this is not to say I wouldn’t recommend Beaches & Cream, particularly to Walt Disney World first-timers. As noted, it’s fun and novel. So much of Walt Disney World vacations is about the unique and memorable experience, and that’s exactly what you’re getting with the Kitchen Sink at Beaches & Cream. It’s a blast to try to conquering this huge sundae, and will make you smile, laugh, and maybe cry. In the end, isn’t that what Walt Disney World is all about?
As I sit here today, one Kitchen Sink older and perhaps wiser, I feel I should share some parting thoughts. If I’ve learned anything as I’ve aged, it’s that one thing surpasses the energy of youth: the stubbornness of a mule. I may no longer have the former, but I have no shortage of the latter…and my supply of stubbornness only seems to increase with age. So, rest assured: I’ve still be putting down Kitchen Sinks (heck, I could take on an Ice Cream Bathtub) when I’m 80 years old. And blogging about the experience.
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Your Thoughts
Do you agree or disagree with our take on the Chocolate Lovers’ Kitchen Sink…or Beaches & Cream, generally? Would you rather stop here, or at Ample Hills? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Hi, Love your blog and enjoy all your posts. Going to try the Kitchen Sink for the first time on Friday. After reading this post plus the comments, I wish I had Ample Hills for ice cream on my recent trip. Good job on the Kitchen Sink. Thanks for the sharing this with all of us. Keep up with good work.
We had beaches and cream for lunch on our honeymoon trip the day we left. We had done breakfast at Trattioro al forno so we were not very hungry and simply ordered off the kids meal so we had room for the mickey kitchen sink. We found it to be a blast seeing three tables try to complete the kitchen sink (one table did complete it!) I think my favorite part though was that they announced our mickey kitchen sink like the others because we were on our honeymoon which was really fun. I found the food to be good and plan to go back since the price is reasonable. It isn’t the most amazing meal you will have on your trip but it is a fun more casual meal!
This post came 3 days too late…lol. After reading all the hype, we got a reservation. We had such high hopes but were severely disappointed. We were also looking for a little something after the Food and Wine festival but the menu was very limited and what we did order left much to be desired (turkey club and grilled chicken). We built our own sundaes and I actually found myself wishing we had just gone to The Plaza. (Ample Hills is on our to-do list.)
As a side note: I found the table setup very uncomfortable. We were seated at a tiny table right next to the walk up counter and the whole time we ate people came in looking over the ledge at our food and as we got up to leave every table was so packed with chairs we couldn’t get to the door. We had to ask someone to move at the back of the tiny restaurant so we could get around the tables and out the door.
LOVE this post. Keep attacking the sundaes and sharing your amazing* experiences. 🙂
Tom, I’m laughing so hard at this post and the humour. I’ve got a reservation for beaches and cream in 2 weeks time and have been thinking about doing the chocolate lovers kitchen sink. But still undecided. I want to…but then I don’t. I’m scared. Someone hold me hahaha. I wouldn’t want to spend that much on ice cream and waste if but also don’t want to feel sick for the rest of the evening.
Good tip on asking for less whipped cream.
Where does L’Artisan des Glaces fall in comparison to Ample Hills? Is it worth taking the walk from the showcase to Ample Hills to get their ice cream instead? What makes Ample Hills better (if it is)?
My daughter had both and preferred L’Artisan des Glaces over Ample Hills. She often talks about it and how she wishes she could transport herself to Epcot just for the ice cream. Personally, I don’t see what all the hype is about with Ample Hills. If you are short on time I would skip Ample Hills.
Both are excellent, and the style of ice cream at each differs considerably. I’d say it ultimately will come down to personal preference. We prefer Ample Hills, but plenty of others prefer L’Artisan des Glaces. They’re both significantly better than the norm at WDW.
Good job on the Kitchen Sink. I have witnessed people attempt it but they never finish. If I were a teenager, I assume I could keep up with you. If I tried the challenge now, I would need to eat a whole bottle of lactaid in order to keep up.
After reading this post plus the comments, I wish I had Ample Hills for ice cream in my recent trip.
Tom, maybe someday they’ll offer the Kitchen Sink at DLR so you and Sarah can see if it tastes any better with Dreyer’s. 😉
Hahah–I know this is a joke, but they actually *did* offer one at PCH Grill. We had it and I planned on reviewing it…but they removed it from the menu right after we had it, before we could review it.
I think “novel and fun” is a big part of it. We had the chocolate lover’s kitchen sink a little over 2 years ago. We’ve had better ice cream (including Ample Hills) many times since then, but my daughter still talks about getting the kitchen sink and want’s to do it again some day.
I actually thought the Sunday worked well (perhaps because I do truly love chocolate). About the only thing was the candy bars, as cold candy bars are awfully hard to chew.
We did the Kitchen Sink quite a few years ago. We had three teenagers with us. The Sink did not stand a chance! Every melted molecule disappeared! The memory still gives me a sugar buzz!
I can’t imagine how you felt after eating all that goo and sugar, especially considering Sarah only had a few spoonfuls. I also wonder if you went back to your hotel room after that, or if you continued on with your day as usual. That would have been the end of the day for me, and perhaps the next too. But you are young, and your system is better able to tolerate sinks filled with ice cream, candy and whipped cream. Enjoy it while you can.
I literally fell asleep floating around the lazy river in Stormalong Bay after eating it.
Going to try the Kitchen Sink for the first time on Friday. We are enlisting the help of several of our friends children along with our own daughter, so I think we will make it. I may have a bite just to check it off the list, so to speak, but now I’m saving myself for Ample Hills.
Love your blog and enjoy all your posts. Won’t be planning on going to Beaches and Cream but am definitely dreaming of being able to go to Amorette’s again. Their offerings tasted every bit as good as they looked, and thank you so much for making me aware of this exquisite pastry shop! You are a hoot and a holler. Thank you for doing this blog!
We went to Amorette’s a few weeks ago (after reading Tom’s post about it) and it was amazing!
I had made reservations at Beaches and Cream for our upcoming January trip, but I cancelled when I considered that this likely meant we would not be able to fit in Ample Hills. That place is SO GOOD – I’ve never been to Beaches and Cream, but I just couldn’t fathom choosing Edy’s over the Ooey Gooey Buttercake Sundae.
I’m surprised that someone with your build could eat that much ice cream basically by yourself – that’s an accomplishment I suppose. 🙂