No matter how distant it is, the familiar chime of the ice cream truck instantly lifts my mood. The first thing I think of when I hear this tune is a vanilla ice cream cone with rainbow sprinkles—my go-to order since I was ten. However, not everyone feels as favorably about vanilla ice cream as I do. Whenever anyone asks what the best flavor of ice cream is, I’ll often hear people say flavors like mint-chip, Oreo, even chocolate, but never vanilla. And whenever I answer with “vanilla,” I’ll often receive a look of disapproval, even disgust, that I would ever utter a word so basic and bland. The New York Times and Tasting Table both released articles titled “How Did Vanilla Become a Byword for Blandness?” and “How Did Vanilla Become Synonymous With Bland? Blame Ice Cream,” respectively. In these articles, the writers identify a pattern—vanilla ice cream is widely considered boring. 

But why is vanilla ice cream treated with such disapproval? In my opinion, people view vanilla ice cream negatively simply because they see it so much. It’s paired with a warm apple pie, a rich chocolate brownie, a hot cup of coffee, or even a cold, fizzy root beer! Because it is such a versatile flavor, and is used to complement almost every popular dessert, people get bored! Some may call vanilla ice cream’s consistent presence basic and automatically assume it’s an unappealing flavor, but I believe that its versatility and deliciousness are what make it a top-tier flavor of ice cream. The perfectly sweet and creamy flavor of vanilla ice cream can be enjoyed on its own or with a delicious dessert, elevating anything and everything to the next level. So, is basic really bad? I think not. Kimberly Yuen (‘26), a fellow fan of vanilla ice cream, said that “On a hot summer day, I find myself reaching for a scoop of vanilla ice cream simply because it’s delicious.” She also stated that “No matter how I’m feeling, I’m always in the mood for vanilla ice cream!” Some of my favorite food items are considered basic, like sea salt potato chips, buttered pasta, and buttermilk pancakes topped with a dash of syrup. While vanilla ice cream may be considered basic by many, I think its simplicity is actually one of its strongest traits. So, next time you’re outside on a hot, sunny day and you hear the happy melody of the ice cream truck rolling down the street, don’t shy away from the vanilla ice cream that you secretly want! Vanilla ice cream can be cool too.