I had my first taste of yum yum at a game of base ball.
Oldtimers in Hoboken recall it as a common summertime treat, but for the refreshment stand at a ballgame played by 19th-century rules, primarily with period equipment, a tub of yum yum could be procured only from nearby Lyndhurst, New Jersey.
The name is often considered a synonym for vanilla, but an exhibition at the Hoboken Historical Museum pictures a sign for "yum yum lemon ice," and a poster in the above-cited Chowhound thread attests to both chocolate and vanilla. Possibly "yum yum" originally described a style, with vanilla as its most popular flavor. This serving ($2), truth be told, struck a vaguely marshmallow-y note, though maybe my tastebuds were influenced by a texture that had perturbed in the heat — the yum yum had partly melted, and not in a purely creamy way.
But then, consider the comfort of the folks in uniform. Below, right to left, are a batter for Flemington Neshanock, the catcher for the Hoboken Nine, and the umpire. See more of this base ball game on Flickr, if you aren't put off by the newfangled format of digital photography.
Lyndhurst Pastry Shop
256 Ridge Rd., Lyndhurst, New Jersey
201-939-3951
www.LyndhurstPastryShop.com
Yum yum served this one afternoon at Dobbelaar Baseball Field, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey
