For Jill Castlen, known to millions of social media followers as “Mama Jill,” the taste of her childhood wasn’t just any dessert. It was a specific, fudgy scoop of ice cream from Ritzy’s in Owensboro.
“Growing up, my mom and I would stop by Ritzy’s for ice cream after school often, and my go-to flavor was Chunky Dory Fudge on a sugar cone,” Castlen said. “It had these hard, chewy fudge pieces in it that were so good.”
That memory stuck with her, even after the recipe didn’t. Several years ago, a supplier issue forced Ritzy’s to swap out those signature fudge pieces for standard brownie chunks, a change that left Castlen disappointed.
Now, the “OG” version she remembers is coming back.
Starting May 1, Castlen is partnering with Owensboro’s Ritzy’s for “Mama Jill May,” a month-long promotion built around the return of the original Chunky Dory Fudge recipe.
“I’m so excited that for the month of May, the original is back,” she said.
The limited-time flavor, dubbed an “Ode to the Original,” features the same fudgy bites and recipe Castlen grew up eating. It will be available exclusively at Ritzy’s two Owensboro locations at 4527 KY 54 and 4925 Frederica Street.
The collaboration extends beyond the ice cream itself. Customers who purchase a double scoop of Chunky Dory Fudge will receive a limited-edition keychain featuring Castlen’s signature.
Fans outside of Daviess County will still have a way to take part. A “Life is Sweet” T-shirt tied to the promotion will be available for online pre-order through May 31, with options for shipping or local pickup about two weeks after the ordering window closes.
For Castlen, though, the promotion is less about the extras and more about something simple: getting a small piece of her childhood back, one scoop at a time, even if only for a few weeks.
