Menorah Home and Hospital’s Kaffee Klastch group, a social club of 25 seniors between the ages of 57 to 96, declared strawberry “the absolute best” during a taste bud teaser, in which residents sampled 24 flavors of Haagen Dazs ice cream donated to the Manhattan Beach facility, 1516 Oriental Boulevard.
Rocky road and chocolate chocolate chip came in a close second and third.
“Strawberry%u2026it’s not too sweet and just right,” said Marie Harley, 88, of the Gerritsen Beach section of Brooklyn.
Rating the flavors from one to five with five being the best, Harley and others tickled their palette with 24 flavors including traditional and exotic selections, such as vanilla bean, caramel cone, pineapple coconut and even green tea. Water was the preferred chaser.
While some were ready to declare a favorite on the first taste, others like Rose Bloom were not as easily swayed.
“I can’t help it, I love ice cream,” said Bloom. “I love all flavors. It’s like having children. How can you choose a favorite?”
In addition to ice cream, members of Kaffee Klatsch get together Monday-Friday to socialize over coffee, hot chocolate, tea, cookies and other favorite treats.
Organized by Menorah’s recreation therapists, the group helps keep seniors active, social and vibrant as they age.
“At Menorah, it’s all about keeping seniors both healthy and happy,” said Menorah’s Director of Recreation Therapy Helen Muller. “And what better way to keep them happy than ice cream. It’s a universal people pleaser.”
