By the Scoop

- by Devin Crum -

Serving Up Tasty Treats "By The Scoop"

There's a new ice cream shop in town, and they have a magnificent variety of treats for all tastes. By The Scoop, located at 105 Carroll Island Road in Bowleys Quarters, opened on March 5 and is owned and operated by Michael Meola and his daughter Erin Maynard. Erin also manages the shop. Michael's son Brian said his father has been making ice cream for several years and he has always been a great cook, making more than just ice cream. "He also taught my sister how to make it," Brian said. Brian, who helps with the variety and creativity of menu items, said, "We make everything in the store from scratch with our own recipes, and we keep 32 flavors on hand at all times." He said the shop offers some unique menu items that patrons are unlikely to find elsewhere in the area. One such item is a chocolate chip cookie with a chocolate bottom, which can be served by itself or with another as an ice cream sandwich. They also offer liege wafels, a Dutch dessert waffle recipe with ice cream and their homemade chocolate topping, which Brian said he came across while on his honeymoon in Holland (Netherlands), and a waffle sundae. He said their very thick milkshakes are popular as well. The shop features a nostalgic 1950s theme and unusually large portions. It also fills the void for an ice cream parlor in the area, created when Bruster's closed their shop formerly located across from The Landing Strip on Eastern Boulevard. "My dad and sister wanted to open a business to create some jobs because of the economy," Brian said. Brian also thinks it is important that the shop is family-owned and everything is homemade for quality reasons. "We stay focused on that," he said. Though not yet fully functional, the shop's web site, www.bythescoop.com, offers links to its Facebook page and Twitter account which house much more information about the business and complete lists of menu items and prices. The shop can also be reached by calling 443-317-8054 and is open from noon to 9 p.m. everyday.