Callie Smith
Sports Editor
The sweetest debate in Cookeville is the decision of where to find your morning doughnut and afternoon ice cream. My choices: Ralph’s and Cream City.
The Tech community indulges in the passionate choice of Ralph’s Donuts versus Big O Donuts every school year. Another common dessert discussion among students is where to go for ice cream; Cream City Ice Cream and Coffee House or Lazy Cow Creamery?
Ralph’s is a classic dating back to 1962. The shop is 0.8 miles from Tech, these delightful doughnuts have raised three generations of Golden Eagles.
Walking into Ralphs feels like you are stepping into a nostalgic movie scene. The sweet smell of fresh dough attacks the senses and draws you closer to shelves filled with doughnuts, fritters, muffins and cinnamon rolls. One long counter connects the guests while vintage Tech sports equipment and photos connect new Golden Eagles and old alike to the past.
Ralph’s provides students with a cheap treat to spoil themselves. Doughnuts are priced at $1.39 and a dozen can be bought for $15.39.
With midterms just around the corner, here is my recommendation for a half-dozen box to get you through the week! Start with Ralph’s famous Butter-Twist, then add Red Velvet, Blueberry Cake, Cinnamon Sugar, Maple Cream and finish with a classic Chocolate Glaze.
“Doughnut” worry if doughnuts are not your thing, as Cream City supplies a frozen sweet treat just alike. With a shorter walk of 0.6 miles from campus, you’ll run into Cream City Ice Cream and Coffee House.
Cream City opened in 1890 as “Consumer City,” providing the Cookeville community with dairy products. Ice cream became its focus in 1896 and the shop has been a sweet center of the city ever since.
Cream City is allergy aware and provides dairy free, nut free, egg free and gluten free options. All ingredients for each flavor can be found on their website.
If you can dream it, there’s a flavor. Their Ice Cream tastes range from Chocolate Raspberry Truffle, Horchata to Salty Honey. The shop also has Southern flavors such as Blackberry Cornbread, Banana Pudding and Tennessee Fudge.
A sweet treat is never too far away for Tech students.
