Mmmm… ice cream. By now you all know my love for it. I love to make it, and I love to eat it. Going out for ice cream is a favorite splurge, but the more I’ve developed a taste for good, handmade ice cream, the less I am satisfied by sub-par varieties.
Some people might like to try local beers or coffee, and while I’d be onboard for those, what I really love to sample when I travel is local ice cream. I’ve always loved ice cream, but this little “hobby”–visiting and photographing ice cream shops– is more recent. I’m still kicking myself that we drove through and stayed in Ohio back in 2009 and I never visited Jeni’s.
Here is a little photo walk through some of my favorite really good ice cream shops that we’ve visited over the last couple of years (in no particular order).
Julian Pie Company; Julian, CA {cinnamon ice cream– oh man!}
Fair Oaks Farm; Fair Oaks, IN {from cow to mik to ice cream– doesn’t get much fresher!}
The Daily Scoop; San Diego, CA {and anywhere around the county that sells Niederfrank’s ice cream}
MooTime Creamery; Coronado, CA {a San Diego classic}
Cowlick’s; Fort Bragg, CA {local ingredients and unique flavors}
Screamin’ Mimi’s; Sepastopol, CA {hands down, the best ice cream I’ve ever had}
A few more favorites, not pictured here are Bravíssimo (Santiago, Chile), Bubby’s Gelato (Encinitas, CA) and Serendipity 3 (New York, NY).
Now it’s your turn! I know we have readers all over the world. Please tell us your favorite artisan ice cream shop and location in the comments so that we’re ever in your neck of the woods we can stop in for a scoop… or two.
About Nicole
When I was in Columbus, OH last summer, I tried “Jeni’s” ice cream and it has changed ice cream for me forever! Definitely check out her website http://www.jenis.com
Yep…jenis is amazing. Insanely jealous of her. I’ll admit it.
In New Orleans, we have two ice cream artisan shops that are local favorites- The Creole Creamery (you have to love a shop whose slogan is “Eat Ice Cream. Be Happy”)- which has unbelievable flavors like Green Tea & Apricot, Balsamic Stone Fruits, Candied Bacon & Cinnamon, Lemon Basil, and Chocolate Praline. http://www.creolecreamery.com/flavors/
The other favorite is Angelo Brocato’s Italian Ice Cream- which has been serving up authentic rich gelato and Italian ices since 1905, in about the quaintest shop you’ll ever see- it’s like stepping back in time to go to Brocato’s! http://www.angelobrocatoicecream.com/
Hm, I honestly can’t think of any here in Tucson. I know there’s a new place downtown we’ve been meaning to try called Hub – which is a brewery/ice-creamery. (Win for both of us!) But it’s a 40 min drive, and we haven’t gotten to it yet…
I do like Kona Beri frozen yogurt though! I’m not sure if it’s a chain, or a local thing, but it’s yummy.
Graft Dairy in Grand Junction, CO. They use fresh from the cow milk to make their ice cream. It is so rich and good! Even my non-ice cream-fan BF was happy when we broke out the tubes after dinner each night we were there.
Ha, we used to live 20 minutes from Fair Oaks…it was indeed fresh and VERY good!
Oh man, I was so excited to tell you about our local ice-cream super-star, Jeni Britton Bauer of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.
The flavor combos and sheer deliciousness of her ice cream puts her at the tippy-top of my list. AND, if you’re not making a trip to Ohio (or Tennessee) any time soon, you can order it for home delivery OR use her cookbook to make it at home!
http://www.jenis.com/jenis-splendid-ice-creams-at-home-signed-copy/
YUM!
Mallard’s in downtown Bellingham, WA!
And here’s the website.
http://www.mallardicecream.com/
Salt & Straw in Portland, OR
http://saltandstraw.com/
-Tried this twice in one weekend in May! Amazing flavors like BONE MARROW and cherry, saaaaalted caramel, strawberry balsamic, etc.
Marianne’s in Santa Cruz, CA
http://www.yelp.com/biz/mariannes-ice-cream-santa-cruz
I took a picture of the front of this shop with a throwaway camera back in 2000 when I was 16, so I’d know where to go next time I was on a road trip!
Andrea, I was just going to recommend Mallard’s! Small world.
Penny Ice Creamery in Santa Cruz, CA. They even were invited to the Presidential Inauguration, I think. Different flavors, like: Burnt Cinnamon, Black Tea Peach, Verve Coffee with Chocolate Almond Praline, Fresh Mint Chip, Earl of Grey, Strawberry Pink Peppercorn, Strawberry Sorbet, Tahitian Vanilla Bean, and Dark Chocolate Sorbet.
Now this is a post my kids and I would love to help do research for!!! Lots of fun!!!
I have two gelato recommendations you must try: 1) Escogelato http://escogelato.com/ (owned by my friend Suzy–also a fellow Cal Poly grad) and if you’re ever in Little Italy try Pappalecco.
Oh…and in Santa Cruz try Marianne’s. A family favorite I’ve been going to ever since I was little. They have all kinds of delicious flavors…everyone in my family likes licorice, but I’m not a huge fan! But there are plenty of other flavors to try!
Amy’s Ice Cream in Austin. They’ve got some great classics (Mexican vanilla) and some tasty funky flavors. My husband loves the Guinness one!
Have you tried Mariposa Homemade Ice Cream on Adams Ave in Normal Heights (San Diego). Small, family-owned & awesome.
A favorite flavor is the Mexican Hot Chocolate.
Here we have a shop called Sweet Peaks! They have homemade ice cream with wonderful flavors like Blood orange and strawberry sorbet and Banana Cayenne…Their Salted Caramel is really good too!
Christina’s Homemade Ice Cream in Cambridge, MA. THE best homemade ice cream made on site, with interesting flavors like Burnt sugar and avocado! They also have flavors like cinnamon banana, mexican chocolate and many more, something for every palate! There’s not a lot of seating and can sometimes have long lines but, totally worth it. Very close to Harvard Square. A recommendation for anyone visiting.
I forgot the website!
http://christinasicecream.com/index.htm
Wow, I really like this article. Just take a look at these pictures, there is no doubt that these ice creams are just delicious.
Buttonwood Farms in CT is delicious. It is near Mystic, CT. http://www.buttonwoodfarmicecream.com/
Rota Springs Ice Cream in Central MA is also delicious. http://rotaspringfarm.com/
MA has many places that have homemade ice cream that are really good. Farms that needed direction to save their lands.
Bret and I drove up the California Coast last Labor Day and we still talk about this Ice Cream Shop: Bi-Rite Creamery in San Francisco, CA.
All their milk, eggs and cream are organic and they have fun flavors like salted caramel, roasted banana, strawberry balsamic, and basil! It’s no wonder that the line is consistently out the door and around the block! YUM!
http://biritecreamery.com/icecream
Carmela’s in Pasadena, CA. Oh, man!!! Lavender Honey ice cream!
http://carmelaicecream.com/