If I could pick any place in Peoria to start this ten week ice cream tour it would probably be Hunts Drive-In, the legendary restaurant on Farmington Road. Here’s some photos that someone on facecrack recently sent me:
They were known for their tenderloin sandwiches and ice cream treats.
This is a menu I have from Hunts that I got at Urban Artifacts. I’d sure like to start this tour off with a classic chocolate ice cream sundae from Hunts, but it’s been closed for years now. However, if you’re a regular reader of the blog, you know that there’s still a place in Peoria to go to get a taste of Hunts, even though the restaurant is long gone, so away we go to the next best thing!
Here we are at Proctor Hospital. Yeah, I know that a hospital isn’t usually what you think of when you’re craving an ice cream treat, but as you enter the lobby there’s an oasis just over there...
It’s the Snacks ‘N Sodas snack shop. As you can see, they have soup, sandwiches and most importantly...ice cream!
I love the blazing neon sign in here. I think I see a familiar face over there behind the counter...
It’s Jean! We’ve met Jean on every trip here and now if you’re not familiar with the Hunts connection here, I’ll explain. Faith Hunt, the wife of Hunts owner, Gordon Hunt was a volunteer here at the snack shop for 35 years and she gave them the recipes for all the Hunts ice cream treats. Those are the recipes pasted on the counter there. Faith passed away a few years ago, but her recipes and the Hunt’s ice cream taste and tradition lives on here at the Snacks ‘N Sodas snack shop!
I decided to start off this ice cream tour with a classic ice cream creation: The chocolate sundae. There’s Jean whipping one up, you can tell this isn’t the first sundae she’s ever made, she’s an expert at this!
Wow, that looks like a delicious chocolate sundae! Let’s take it to the table and have a closer look.
Jean told me they use Prairie Farms ice cream and there’s three scoops of vanilla, lots of chocolate fudge, chopped peanuts and it’s topped off with whipped cream and a cherry! It’s a sweet treat!
After I was about halfway done, I smooshed the ice cream into a velvety mixture of all of the ingredients and it was so tasty! Ice cream week number one...
Is done!
As you can see, in addition to the Hunt’s ice cream treats, there’s a full luncheon menu here with soups, sandwiches, wraps. chili dogs and there’s another local taste to be had in here, Trefzger’s thumbprint cookies and cake! This was a cool and sweet start to this ice cream tour and thanks to Jean for the wonderful sundae and hospitality! And thanks to Nancy Kemper who originally told me that the Hunts recipes were used here! Oh, and Dan #2, anytime you want to settle up our $5,000 bet, just let me know! We’ll see you all tomorrow!
Ice Cream Rating
Three and three quarters ice cream cones—if you’re looking for a taste of Hunts, stop by the Snacks ‘N Soda snack shop in the Proctor Hospital. It’ll be a trip down memory lane for your tastebuds!
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Proctor Hospital (Near the main entrance)
5409 N Knoxville Avenue
Peoria
309-691-1000
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Related Posts: Palate Cleanser: Ice Cream Sandwiches @ The Coffee Hub, This Used to Be...Hunt’s Family Restaurant and A Summer Taste of Hunts In The Proctor Snacks ‘N Soda Snack Shop.