Zingerman’s Creamery Lauches “Baracky Road” to Celebrate New Administration

Ann Arbor, MI—To mark the historic inauguration of Barack Obama on January 20, Zingerman’s Creamery has created “Baracky Road” gelato and is shipping nationwide beginning Monday, January 12 at www.zingermans.com. Baracky Road is the brainchild of gelato-maker Josh Miner, who “just wanted to find some way to mark the occasion and, given President-elect Obama’s well-known taste for good food, I thought this was appropriate.”

Based on traditional Rocky Road, the gelato is made Sicilian-style with Michigan milk and cream, butter roasted Virginia peanuts, chocolate chips (made at the Creamery from Callebaut and Valrhona chocolates), dulce de leche from Argentina and handmade marshmallows from Zingerman’s Bakehouse. Asked whether he’d try to get some of the gelato into the new President’s hands, Miner was hopeful but realistic. “I’m a Chicago native and have had the pleasure of meeting the Obama family on many occasions. I’d love to get his feedback, but I don’t imagine gelato is the first thing on his mind right now. We just wanted to have some fun with it.”

Miner also noted the paradox in celebrating the new administration with something that recalls “rocky road.” “It wasn’t intentional,” he notes “but, given the shape of the country, it’s a pretty fair description of what’s facing his administration.”

Baracky Road is available to ship nationwide in limited quantities from www.zingermans.com or by calling 888-636-8162. Six 12-ounce cups are $75. It is also available in Ann Arbor at Zingerman’s Creamery, 3711 Plaza Drive (734.929.0500), Zingerman’s Delicatessen, 422 Detroit Street (734.663.3354) and Zingerman’s Roadhouse, 2501 Jackson Road (734.663.3663).

For more information or for photos and packaging samples contact Pete Sickman-Garner, Marketing Manager, 734.904.0644 or [email protected].

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Zingerman’s Creamery was founded in 2001 by John Loomis as Southeast Michigan’s only artisanal cheesemaker. They have won several awards for their cheeses from the American Cheese Society, and their cream cheese has been hailed by the New York Times (“This Cheese Stands Alone.”). The Creamery brought a traditional Sicilian gelato machine over from Italy and began selling gelato out of their shop and at other Zingerman’s businesses. The gelato has been voted Best in Southeast Michigan by the Detroit’s Metro Times in both 2007 and 2008. Currently, Zingerman’s Creamery gelato is available at all Zingerman’s locations and select retailers in Southeast Michigan.