PrintWhat's Your Favorite Local Ice Cream?
Serious Eats would love to know what your favorite local ice cream is. If it's shippable, please tell us; we might just have to hold an ice cream taste-off. Non-shippable ice creams are also welcome!
Pictured above is a small cup of pistachio gelato from one of our favorite NYC-based ice cream purveyors, Il Laboratorio del Gelato.
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48 Comments:
It's not local to me, but it is fantastic. And it is shippable. Pretty much just about any flavor from the Creamery at Penn State. I'm partial to the Peachy Paterno.
growler at 9:52AM on 06/13/07
Gelato at OTTO. No question. No competition. No lines.
http://offthebroiler.wordpress.com/2007/06/13/nyc-dining-gelato-at-otto-enoteca-pizzeria/
jperlow at 9:55AM on 06/13/07
in a rather ice creamless part of new england, the best ice cream is Ice Cream Fore You in West Lebanon, NH.
Yes, it's near a mini-golf course.
But the prices are great, the portions are huge, and even the soft serve is good.
Sumintra at 10:03AM on 06/13/07
There's a place called Gerenser's in New Hope, PA. I know they used to make all their ice cream there (my favorites: Hari Kari, Jewish Malaga), but I'm not sure now as I've been out of the area for too many years now to really admit. The place is still there, that I know.
Stufsocker at 10:09AM on 06/13/07
Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory--especially the peach. Just lightly sweet and so fresh and creamy.
sarahk at 10:21AM on 06/13/07
Midwesterner's know ice cream.
Izzy's in St. Paul (IzzysIceCream.com)
Sebastian Joe's in Minneapolis (http://citypages.com/dish/detail.asp?CID=8807)
Neither ships, to my knowledge.
Fiksu at 10:58AM on 06/13/07
I think Chinatown Ice Cream Factory has the BEST ice cream with lots of yummy flavors like lychee, passion fruit, ginger, mango. My favorite right now is the almond cookie ice cream.
spicyginn at 11:00AM on 06/13/07
Jenni's in Columbus, OH. I just read a magazine article claiming Columbus as the ice cream capital. I don't know about that, but Jenni's is outstanding. A small with one scoop of dark chocolate gelato and one scoop of salted carmel is my personal favorite!
July at 11:08AM on 06/13/07
Blue Bell Ice Cream is the best at any price. The Homemade Vanila cannot be touched. The local creamery in Brenham, Texas moved into the Houston market in the early 1970's and completely took it over. It has gradually inched out of Texas.
mrbadideas at 11:26AM on 06/13/07
Zwahlens - www.zwahlens.com - is ridiculously amazing. They only serve three flavors. Vanilla and chocolate always and a third "daily" flavor. The ice cream is super creamy and smooth and they offer a dark chocolate hot fudge sauce that I could drink straight.
segalbraith at 11:30AM on 06/13/07
I second mrbabideas. Blue Bell ice cream - where they 'eat all they can and sell the rest' - is one of the things I miss most about TX. Peaches and Homemade Vanilla has always been my favorite. It's one of the seasonal flavors, so I get it when I can. And you only have to order two gallons to have it shipped :)
krisrex at 11:34AM on 06/13/07
Out here in SoCal, I love Dr. Bob's ice cream, high in butterfat and crafted by a Cal Poly professor. It is shippable: http://www.drbobsicecream.com/index.html
erinskitchen at 11:35AM on 06/13/07
Another New England entry: Srafford Organic Creamery (www.straffordcreamery.com) in Strafford, VT. This is an organic family farm that supplies milk and ice cream to the VT/NH area. Terrific vanilla and chocolate, and several other seasonal flavors.
hobnob at 12:02PM on 06/13/07
Bi-Rite Creamery's salted caramel is amazing!
yumsugar at 12:09PM on 06/13/07
I definitely second Dr. Bob's ice cream in SoCal. I live close to an ice cream shop that serves this and I probably eat it more than I should, but it's too good to resist. You can't go wrong with the Cappuccino Crunch or the Brown Sugar Pecan. I'd order the Eclectic 6-Pack as a good sampler.
Jperezish at 12:13PM on 06/13/07
'sconnie ice cream at its best:
Babcock Hall ice cream
or Chocolate Shoppe ice cream
kplays at 1:03PM on 06/13/07
In Philly, I love Capogiro for gelato (capogirogelato.com). I love all their flavors—there's a rosemary-honey-goat's milk variety to die for. It's pricey, but your can order it online here:
https://www.capogirogelato.com/order/index.php
I can't believe no other Philadelphians have mentioned it!
pgoat at 1:06PM on 06/13/07
Dinky and Coco's - stupid name, excellent Italian gelato.
14383 Metcalf Ave
Overland Park, KS 66210
scraig3673 at 2:01PM on 06/13/07
I'd have to go with Sippin Soda in the Hammmmmmmmmptons (make sure to life your nose when saying it for total snootiness). They make a great banana ice cream that can save my day.
Bocce at 2:20PM on 06/13/07
SoCo Creamery formerly Bev's in the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts.
Ben K at 2:34PM on 06/13/07
I'm with pgoat. The fact that I live in New York and have actually rented a car to go to Capogiro - just to visit their two locations - says a lot. I think their sorbets are even better than their ice cream - lime-cilantro especially. Now I buy it at Whole Foods.
Phoebe Damrosch at 2:55PM on 06/13/07
Van Dyk's in Ridgewood, NJ (they also now sell some flavors at Holy Grounds Christian Coffee Shop in Allendale, NJ).
dkstar1 at 3:08PM on 06/13/07
Big Daddy's Rt 1 Wells, Maine
The Chocolate Strawberry, Marco Island, Florida
Deb07 at 3:38PM on 06/13/07
Amy's Ice Creams for sure.. best homemade ice creams I've ever had, anywhere.. their strawberry is sooooo good, and they even make my chocoholic friends happy.
Oh, and I object - Gelato is not ice cream, it's way better than ice cream, so I don't think it's fair to true ice cream to include them ;}
myzkyti at 4:05PM on 06/13/07
Here in Braselton, Ga. the Mayfield Dairy rules. They give daily tours of the creamery and the ice cream/souvenir shop offers GIANT cones in MANY flavors for $1. I got the $2 double dip once and couldn't finish it. If you're traveling I85 in the vicinity of Exit 129, look for signs.
grampart at 4:22PM on 06/13/07
unfortunately i haven't found anything in my hometown of nyc to rave about. i love franklin fountain in philly (mint chip) and kimball's farm (anything! but black raspberry or moosetracks especially) in jaffrey nh with other locations in westford and carlisle ma
Lexie at 4:25PM on 06/13/07
I lived in Rochester, NY for one summer and I was pretty obsessed with Abbott's Frozen Custard. We got it a couple of times a week at least (I know, really healthy).
wrain at 4:43PM on 06/13/07
Dave and Andy's in Pittsburgh.
I believe that they could ship it to you.
They have flavors like Kaluha, and Golden Ale Espresso Bean.
My favorite is Birthday Cake.
They also make the waffle cones right in the store, and the smell is exquisite.
Geeka at 7:02PM on 06/13/07
Mashti Malone's in Los Angeles - Orange blossom with pistachio ice cream. It'll change your life. No seriously. It will.
www.mashtimalone.com
wakemeforfood at 8:15PM on 06/13/07
Applegate Farm, in Montclair NJ. Before I found out I'm allergic to milk, I loved their Apple Dutch ice cream (I'm a sucker for anything with baked apple in it) and Egg Nog ice cream. Yum!!
Sometimes, when I visit Montclair I stop by and have some, because I love it so.
www.applegatefarm.com
KDBlue at 8:34PM on 06/13/07
Fentons Creamery in Oakland. I grew up in this area, and anytime anyone wants ice cream, we go here. Specifically, I like their own raspberry swirl flavor. They don't ship, though.
toastykitten at 8:57PM on 06/13/07
JB's Ice Cream Factory in East Longmeadow, MA.
I don't know if they ship; 413-737-6870.
(p.s. They're right near the Donut Dip - I'm sure they'd go there and pick up a few donuts and put 'em in the box if they do ship. :D )
AdamH at 9:33PM on 06/13/07
Graham's Chocolates in Geneva, IL [http://www.grahamschocolate.com/]. All of their ice cream is delicious, esp. their chocolate, vanilla, oreo, cookie dough AND chocolate marshmallow. They also make a delightful and delectable gelato as well.
aburke at 9:42PM on 06/13/07
I second the nomination for Penn State Creamery ice cream. Best strawberry ice cream ever--super creamy and packed with chunks of fresh berries. They also have the best cream cheese, mmm!
sml253 at 10:16PM on 06/13/07
For Penn State ice cream:
http://www.creamery.psu.edu/
sml253 at 10:20PM on 06/13/07
I'll echo the previous commenter who mentioned Jeni's in Columbus, Ohio. Also in Columbus is Denise's, which doesn't seem to get as much attention as Jeni's, but is just as good in my opinion.
iguanaaa at 10:45PM on 06/13/07
La Creme Cremaillere in Bedford, NY. I adored the cherry clafoutis, which I don't see on their Web site, but I do see wild forest strawberry (fraise des bois). They import the berries from France and Italy. The ice cream is not overly sweet, and the texture is perfect.
They ship.
fleurdesel at 10:47PM on 06/13/07
Ted Drewes frozen custard in St. Louis, MO! They ship, though it's not as good. This is what the custard at the Shake Shack was based on. The best is their "Cardinal Sin" sundae - vanilla custard, hot fudge, tart sour cherries. Perfecto.
selizara at 11:42PM on 06/13/07
Best ice cream shop ever is in los angeles. It's called scoops and it's famous for it's super crazy flavors. on any given day you will find the WEIRDEST flavors like fig and wasabi or strawberry vinegar or currant basil. Check out the 5 start reviews on Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/aaEWX-LNLcbkiOvD_yxOIg
girlrobot at 1:10AM on 06/14/07
There's a small company in Kentucky and Ohio called Graeter's that's absolutely fantastic. They do ship and you can do no wrong by ordering chocolate chip or strawberry.
Michelle Jones at 9:02AM on 06/14/07
OMG! I totally forgot about Max & Minna's ice cream in Queens, NY. They have all the standards, but then they have flavors like ketchup, lox and cream cheese, and garlic. I think I tried broccoli there once. Their novelty scoops are cool, but they're other flavors are just fantastic amalgamations of all the ice cream dreams ever.
The Penn State creamery is pretty good, too. ;-) I'm rather fond of their flavor called "happy happy joy joy," vanilla ice cream with shredded coconut, dark chocolate bits, and toasted nuts.
Stufsocker at 9:45AM on 06/14/07
Sheer Bliss ice cream which comes from Florida and is sold in round tins in Garden of Eden in New York. Creamy, luscious and addicitive.
flakevanille at 11:42AM on 06/14/07
Handel's Ice Cream in Ohio - I have not found a better ice cream - particularly their Butter Pecan. My fiance loves their Chocoholic Chunk.
(I will also throw a little weight behing the Graeter's nomination, though)
anastasia7173 at 1:37PM on 06/14/07
Have to throw in another vote for Jeni's in Columbus. They are, simply put, amazing. Seasonal flavors, high-quality sourcing, very-reasonable shipping... nothing to dislike. I'll also echo the earlier nod to Denise's (which is in fact my neighborhood creamery). In a knock-down drag-out, I think Jeni's has to be the winner, but I just had Denise's cucumber ice cream a couple weeks ago, and it was revelatory.
Yrmencyn at 2:44PM on 06/14/07
Capogiro gelato (and I've only had the pre-packed pints from Whole Foods)
Otto on 8th Street and 5th Avenue
Cones on Bleeker
superdlux at 4:22PM on 06/14/07
Burnt Caramel and Earl Grey tea ice cream at Toscanini's and Ginger Molasses and CARROT CAKE ice cream at Christina's!! Both locations in Cambridge, MA.
charmedbeneath at 8:30PM on 06/14/07
Jeni's in Columbus, OH. Amazing.
I would also say Grater's from Cincinnati, OH. It is made in the French pot method with homemade chocolate chips.
MadCat at 9:04PM on 06/15/07
Besides the usual NY faves (Il Lab, Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory), I love Creole Creamery in New Orleans. It's an old-fashioned ice cream parlor with flavors like chocolate breakfast (with maple syrup flavoring), creole creamcheese, lavender honey. They usually don't ship their ice cream, but they might if you beg.
thesu at 9:11PM on 06/16/07