Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Sharing your naughty treats is a healthy habit, tells MATTHEW VOGEL.
WHEN Matthew Vogel first mentioned opening an ice-cream store, his daughter's eyes lit up.
"That'd be great dad!" she exclaimed.
That same wide-eyed enthusiasm is what makes Mr Vogel so sure he made the right decision when he recently left his career as a scientist to open Monumental Icecreamery in Albury.
"It's wonderful to see small kids' expressions when they come into the shop," Mr Vogel says.
"They look at the bright lights in the counter and all the different ice-creams, and their faces just light up."
But for Mr Vogel and his more mature customers, the relationship with ice-cream -- and life's other "naughty treats" -- is a bit more complex.
Mr Vogel believes nostalgia plays a key role in the lure.
"For me, and I think a lot of other people, it's a throwback to our childhood," he said.
"We were brought up with ice-cream being a treat for special occasions and it brings back some really fond memories.
"Dessert after dinner, beach holidays -- people relate those experiences to ice-cream.
"It's also a great food to share."
The power of sharing food has long been preached by psychologists and social experts and Australians are starting to follow the lead of other cultures.
Tasting plates and tapas are no longer exclusive to fancy restaurants. They are increasingly popular menu options in bars, cafes and even pubs across the region.
"We don't have tables and chairs for that reason," Mr Vogel explains.
"We've set up the store with big benches so people are forced to be together and enhance that atmosphere of community and sharing.
"We sell more cups than cones these days and it's largely because people want to share with each other.
"That's the experience we want to encourage. It's a very positive one."