Ryan Andrews grabbed a soft freshly-baked chocolate chip cookie and swirled a heap of vanilla ice cream on it before placing another cookie on top then squishing it together on Thursday afternoon at Page’s ice cream shop on Pittsburgh’s South Side.
He rolled the finished product in mini chocolate chips, slid it into a bag and placed it in the freezer with dozens of others.
The sweet treat will be available when Page’s opens for its 73rd season on Friday.
“These will be gone by the weekend,” said Margie Page-Prusia, co-owner of Page’s with husband Jared Prusia. “People buy them in quantities. I love ice cream sandwiches. They are a staple in the ice cream world. And these are really, really good.”
Guests most likely will be lining up before 11 a.m. to try them. Page’s has made ice cream sandwiches before but with the traditional chocolate wafers.
The new batch was made with chocolate chip cookies from Potomac Bakery, which has locations in Dormont and a new shop in Mt. Lebanon that opened in the former Graham’s Bakery space in October.
It is the latest collaboration between Page’s and another local company. It’s not the first time a chocolate chip cookie maker and Page’s have worked together — Nancy B’s Bakery in West Homestead, known for huge chocolate chip cookies with a peanut butter flavor, has been teaming up for more than a decade with Page’s for the Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae that’s made with Nancy B’s cookie pieces, vanilla ice cream and hot fudge.
“When you partner with local companies, everything is fresh,” Page-Prusia said. “These companies provide quality, which is important to us. We strive to always provide the best quality product.”
The cost for an ice cream sandwich is $4.67.
Such partnerships with local businesses have also been a part of the Page’s business plan to keep the menu fresh every year while continuing to serve items from iconic Pittsburgh favorites, including Turner’s, where Page’s has been getting dairy products and iced tea for more than three decades. Other connections include Big Dog Coffee, Pastries A-La-Carte and Waffallonia, and fall seasonal items from Oakmont Bakery and Triple B Farms.
Page’s and Pittsburgh apparel company Steel City will launch a Page’s T-shirt in mid-April.
Page-Prusia and Prusia met with Potomac general manager Ron Rodman and developed the perfect combination for the ice cream sandwich.
“It’s really cool,” said Rodman. “This is an honor to partner with Page’s. Local family businesses need to stick together. Page’s is like Potomac. We have both been in business for decades.”
Over the winter, Rodman, Page-Prusia and Prusia conducted several taste tests, Rodman said. It took some fine-tuning to get the perfect size and texture, he said.
“We both take pride in our product,” said Rodman, who has three decades working in the pastry business. “We are a powerhouse combo.”
He had the first order ready Wednesday. With the short distance between the two businesses, fresh baked goods will always be available, he said. The baking is done in Dormont for the bakery, which has been in business since 1927. He will also supply Page’s with some almond and short cakes, cinnamon buns and the bakery’s melt-in-your-mouth signature brownies with powdered sugar.
“I believe the key to success is a good quality product for a reasonable price and that keeps people coming back,” Rodman said. “Page’s is definitely evidence of that. They have customers lined around the building.”
Look for that to happen on Friday.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people and a weekly column about things to do in Pittsburgh. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.