Georgia and the Giant Peach Ice Cream Puff
“Ice Cream Puff”
The sign behind us was simple enough, and I was facing it as Georgia and I sat down for a pow-wow power lunch in the Ocala National Forest. My driving from west of I-75, her driving from east of I-95, we tried to find middle ground at Lena’s, one of my favorite fish houses out near Mill Dam, but today was their day off.
So it was Marie’s Home Cooking, instead, for lunch, a little cafe in Forest Corners that I always knew as Jake’s and hadn’t sampled since the change of owners. Their parking lot was always busy, so I figured it was worth a shot.
Staring at the hand-lettered sign behind Georgia’s left shoulder, I imagined a cream puff full of ice cream, or a pecan ball wrapped in fillo dough. It sounded like a great way to wrap up our meal of homemade tacos and Mexican accoutrements, on special today. Our server had left to pick up a child from school. An older woman – perhaps Marie? – came to our table to clean up.
“What’s the ice cream puff?” I asked.
She smiled. “We make a puff pastry, put a scoop of ice cream in it, and top it off with strawberries.”
Georgia made a face. “I’m allergic to strawberries.”
“No problem, dear,” said our cream puff champion. “We can use blueberries, peaches, whatever you like. All fresh.”
We settled on splitting the dessert, and off she went to the kitchen. After a good bit of time had passed and we were lost in discussion, I looked up and saw the lady who might be Marie approaching with a pie.
“Here you go!” she said.
Georgia and I broke out laughing. This was no pie. Nor was it a puff. It was four times as large as either of us expected. The pastry glistened with a light peach glaze. Fresh peach slices slid down the slippery slope into the whipped cream turrets. Below the pastry and cream, a slab of vanilla ice cream, at least a pint or more, rested.
We tried, valiantly, but just couldn’t finish the mountain of cream, sugar, and peaches. This is a dessert you need to plan ahead for. Bring a table of four when you visit – or just show up with a hearty appetite for sweets.
Marie’s Home Cooking
(352) 625-9555
SR 40, just east of Forest Corners on the north side of the highway
Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (until 9 PM)
Hi Georgia, My son called me and said hey mom go to this web page, This writer named Georgia has wrote about your restaurant and the ice cream puff and all. So I went to take a look, wow what a nice picture and very nice things you said, Thank you,and yes that was me the older woman and your server was my daughter. Its funny just last night I was online reading about how its good to go put your restaurant on places like yelp so people will know about you ,so I did, I don’t think its on yet, they said 12 to 24 hrs. I don’t know of any more places. Do you? I have been busy getting the restautant in order. this (sat) sept 4 is our 1 year anniversary in this restaurant. we are celebration by asking people to come set up tables with arts, crafts,paintings,ministry & business Expo.If they help people in some way.There lots people that can do or make ansome things.Its to let the forest know what they do. Its called the forest is alive community Event. If your in the forest on sat the 4th stop in.Thanks again God Bless Marie
Hello , Marie! Good to know I met you! Actually, I’m Sandra, the writer, and Georgia is my friend in the photo. We absolutely loved your restaurant; I first met you when you were moving in after Jake’s had closed, but hadn’t had the opportunity to stop in for lunch before. Congrats on your anniversary! My mother is hankering after that ice cream puff now, I need to bring her out to the Forest to share one. I posted the photo on Facebook before I blogged about it, and now several dozen of my friends are ready to stop in and enjoy your unique dish. Thank you for providing a wonderful service to folks who live in the Forest, and the travelers who pass on thru!