Hot Dish

By now, everyone in the Metroplex should know about the ice-cream king of Bedford, former-federal-agent-turned-dessert-entrepreneur Milwaukee Joe, whose tiny, old-fashioned ice-cream store is worth the drive and worth the calories. If you really only splurge for a celebration, order your birthday cake from Joe. A three-layer extravagance of chocolate and vanilla ice cream with chopped Oreos, this cake will make you glad to get old. Go for it--have it a la mode.

--Mary Brown Malouf

Milwaukee Joe's, 201 Harwood Rd. (at Norwood), Bedford. (817) 581-1953.