The Scoop: Bassetts Ice Cream

The deal: America's oldest ice-cream company is also the last original merchant at the Reading Terminal Market. Bassets, founded circa 1861, and now run by founder Lewis Bassett's great-great-grandson Mike Strange, moved into the market in 1892, before mechanical refrigeration. Before ice cream cones. Definitely before Moose Tracks.

Details: Reading Terminal, 12th Street side between Filbert and Arch streets, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, 215-925-4315, bassettsicecream.com.

Where it's made: Used to be in the Market's basement. Now, at a co-op of 150 farmers in Johnstown.

Most popular flavor: Vanilla.

Second most popular: Chocolate.

Same as ever: The base recipe hasn't changed for 152 years.

What we ate: Mild peach and that creamy, classic vanilla ice cream on a crisp sugar cone, the exactly perfect combo for a sticky August day. And a cup of raspberry and mango-apricot sorbet, because it's still swimsuit season. (Fun fact: Apricot sorbet was an original flavor.)

What we paid: $4 for a "small," which is a generous double-scoop of up to two flavors.

We wanted to eat: If Bassetts mint chocolate chip was good enough for our Prez, it would be good enough for us, too. (But we'd ask for it in one of the porcelain dishes they keep behind the counter for regulars.)

The wait: On a sort of busy Wednesday at 3 p.m., less than three minutes from order to pickup. Busiest time: Saturday afternoons.

Still there: The worn marble counter's original.

We'll have what they're having: Bassetts' scoopers gotta be the friendliest in town.

Market closed?: Get half-gallons at an independent grocer, Whole Foods Market or in Shanghai. (China scoops up 20 percent of Bassetts' wholesale business.)