Distinct and reliable signs of fall:

• trees changing colours
• people bringing out their long sleeves and sweaters
• the insane lengths of the bookstore/Tims/Dollarama lines

After being gone from campus for yet another 8-month stint for my last two co-op terms, coming back to KW was a weird experience. Why is it so crowded on campus? Why is it impossible to find a cutlery tray? Why did I briefly think that I could survive 3 seminar courses? All excellent questions with no real answers.

In the two days it took me to finish writing and editing this post we have found a cutlery tray (a new unsullied Dollarama opened up on Erb) and I made the decision to save my sanity and switched out of one of the seminars.

What really helped me transition back to campus life was the fact that while I was gone, a new ice cream place opened up in Kitchener and I have been waiting months to try it out. Now I could go on and on about how “for someone who is lactose intolerant I shouldn’t love ice cream as much as I do” but that’s old and tired – unlike the products at Four All.

They combine two of my loves – local ingredients and seriously kick-ass ice cream. You can read more about Ajoa and her philosophy when it comes to the process of sourcing ingredients and choosing flavours on their site.

They keep 8 flavours on rotation at their main Tasting Room location and there are suppliers around KW who stock the cubes for you to take home (including Legacy Greens in downtown Kitchener). Our own fridge basically has enough to qualify our apartment as a stockist but you also couldn’t convince any of us to share.

My personal favourites are:

1. Fresh Ginger (it’s not spicy or overly gingery, it’s actually perfectly balanced and so so good)
2. Peach Crumble (I think this is one of their seasonal flavours so you better stock up while they still have it)
3. Cream of Earl Grey (the only reason it’s 3rd on the list is that I’ve had this flavour at other places and while it is still phenomenal I also think you should try their more unique flavours when you go)

You can (and should!) sample when you go – but obviously, if it’s crazy busy don’t be the person taking their time with all the flavours – and also if you get the single scoop or bigger you can have two flavours!

Fun facts:

• they have gluten-free and vegan options (the blueberry coconut sorbet is 💯)
• the milk they source from Eby Manor comes from cows that produce a protein that makes it easier for people who are lactose intolerant to inhale eat the ice cream
• everything about them is local! cones, ingredients, stockists, the studio that helped design and create their store #kwawesome #livelocal

If you’re a student who doesn’t have access to a vehicle, you can definitely get there by bus and the trip will be worth it. Maybe also stock up on some of the take-home cubes (see the picture of our freezer above) while you’re there so that you can have some dope dessert whenever you want without having to make the trek. If you are driving out for the first time the unit can be a little hard to find because it’s tucked away at the back of the lot.

Once you can see Bonnie Stuart, just zip right into the lot entrance and head to the left for some life-changing ice cream. It seems like a weird location to have such a cute ice cream shop but also I personally have gone 4 times in the last 2 weeks so clearly the location won’t stop the truly dedicated.

LOCATION

141 Whitney Place
Kitchener ON

HOURS

Mon – Wed: Closed
Thursday: 12 pm – 8 pm
Friday: 12 pm – 8 pm
Saturday: 12 pm – 8 pm
Sunday: 12 pm – 5pm

I would also keep an eye on their Twitter or their Instagram for most updated hours as the weather gets colder.