We're going to cause a stir for making this claim, but here goes: The best soft-serve ice cream in Greater Cincinnati is not sold at one of those tiny shops on the corner, but at Newtown Farm Market, where they peddle peaches, sweet corn and tomatoes. There. We said it.

Market owner Bob Palmisano calls it "frozen custard," the kind of soft ice cream he ate growing up in Cleveland. He tinkered with the recipe for months before getting advice from a friend who had worked at a frozen custard stand in a Cleveland amusement park. Palmisano will only say he uses an egg-based custard, honey and premium heavy cream to make his frozen confection, which fills your mouth with an incredibly smooth, dense richness and long flavor finish. You may not remember the rest of the soft-serves after dipping this one.

The market sells the custard in chocolate and vanilla sundaes ($1.99 and $2.79), small and large cones ($1.29 and $1.69) and quarts to-go ($2.99).

Newtown Farm Market, 3950 Round Bottom Road, Anderson Township; 561-2004.

Chuck Martin