Three Twins Ice Cream

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Surprisingly, you can find three twins ice cream in a lot of cafes, Marin County, and even Whole Foods, but in there is only one Three Twins in the city. 

On the top is a scoop of chocolate orange, which tastes exactly like those chocolate orange candies that you crack open.  You can't see it but the scoop under it is the lemon cookie, which has little bits of cookie mixed throughout into an exact replica (in ice cream form, of course) of a lemon cookie.

 

Address:                  Three Twins Ice Cream
                                 2257 Larkspur Circle
                                 Larkspur, CA
 

Type:                        ice cream

Popular chomps:      lemon cookie
                                 sea salt caramel

Chomp worthy:        orange chocolate
                                 lemon cookie       

Scoop Microcreamery

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The novelty of liquid nitrogen made ice cream is making its way down the Peninsula.  First Cyro Cream in Burlingame (see post HERE) and now in Palo Alto's Scoop.

The catch here is that while the ice cream is made with liquid nitrogen, its not made to order.  Instead its made in large batched and then displayed like regular ice cream in the cases.  I found it to be a little disappointing, especially when noting the batches have pools of melted ice cream in them.

Both the bourbon vanilla with salted caramel (top) and maple bacon crunch (bottom) were really soft in consistency.  Almost too much, that some of it started forming an ice cream soup.  Both flavors were just ok and although I can get a little impatient while waiting for Smitten's liquid nitrogen ice cream in the city (see post HERE), I'm now learning that this type of flavor and ice cream is not easily duplicated.

Address:                Scoop Microcreamery
                               203 Univerisity Ave.
                               Palo Alto, CA

Type:                      ice cream

Popular chomps:    bourbon vanilla

Chomp worthy:       nothing        

Cryo Cream

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Nitrogen based ice cream has been made all the rage in San Francisco by Smitten (see post HERE).  Finally, this cool concept has trickled down to the Peninsula.  Similar to Smitten, Cyro Cream uses nitrogen to whip up made to order ice cream.  Right in the middle of downtown Burlingame on a hot day, I was a little surprised there wasn't a line out the door. 

The flavors seem to change daily.  The two that I had hoped to taste - Elvis and cereal milk weren't available so I had to go with some more traditional flavors.

First of all, the texture of the ice cream is really smooth.  Almost too smooth for me, it reminded me of the texture of frozen yogurt.  Also, their ice cream melts really fast.  The flavors here are really sweet and leaves a weird aftertaste.  While I know I'm a little spoiled with TCHO chocolate flavors in the city, this chocolate was too artificially tasting. 

Salted caramel is such a common sight these days, but its really hard to get a good tasting one.  This one was too sweet and didn't have that salty bite I associate with a good tasting salted caramel.  Best thing here was the cool color changing spoons.

   

Address:                     Cryo Cream
                                  240 Park Blvd
                                  Burlingame, CA 
 

Type:                          ice cream/dessert

Popular chomps:       elvis
                                salted caramel
                                cereal milk

Chomp worthy:         nothing      

Marianne's Ice Cream

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Marianne's Ice Cream is one of those lovable ice cream parlors that people flock to.  Its throwback feel and unique flavors remind me of Pollyanne's in San Francisco (see post HERE).  Its dizzy array of flavors from sesame to ginger, there is something here to satisfy everyone. 

A scoop of macadamia nut and a scoop of macapuno (baby coconut) is like a tropical dream.  The macadamia nut scoop surprisingly had a good amount of macadamia nuts.  The macapuno was a little more subtle than I liked, but still not bad.

Pistachio nut was a little artificially tasting and probably the least favorite scoop of the four flavors.  However, the horchata was amazing!  I'm not a huge lover of horchata, but this scoop was milky, cinnamony and ultra smooth.  It reminds me of cinnamon toast crunch!

Address:                    Marianne's Ice Cream
                                   1020 Ocean St.
                                   Santa Cruz, CA
 

Type:                          ice cream

Popular chomps:        horchata
                                    pistachio
                                    Mexican chocolate
                                    10-20
                                    baby coconut (macapuno)

Chomp worthy:           horchata     

Big Gay Ice Cream Shop

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The previous times I had been to New York, I've missed the Big Gay Ice Cream truck and I missed its recent trek to San Francisco, so I was pretty excited to see that they opened up a shop.  With the humidity above my tolerable threshold, I gladly jumped at the opportunity for something cold.

I'm not really a soft serve type of person.  I still haven't had Bi Rite's yet, but that's what they are known for here.  Had I not been stuffing my face all day, I would have loved to try the Bea Arthur, but I stuck with just the Salty Pimp.

Salty Pimp is vanilla soft serve dipped in chocolate.  Salty bits and dulce de leche were pleasant surprises in each bite.  Loved the nifty cone holder, which came in very handy in this heat.

     

Address:                    Big Gay Ice Cream Shop
                                   125 E 7th St
                                   New York NY
 

Type:                          ice cream

Popular chomps:        salty pimp
                                    bea arthur

Chomp worthy:           salty pimp      

Los Manguitos

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Finding all these Mexican dessert spots makes me wonder why can't I find any in the city?  Los Manguitos is a welcome sight on Middlefield Road, where its densely populated with taquerias and taco trucks.  While the parking and driving situation to get here is not pleasant on the weekends, I think this place is worth the hassle!  

The interior is sparse and colorful and very similar to most of the Mexican ice cream shops I've visited in the Bay Area - United Paleteria in San Jose (see post HERE), Nieves Cinco de Mayo (see post HERE).  Out of all of them, I think this is probably the best I've had so far.
Los Manguitos has mangonadas as well as tostilocos.

The menu of popsicle (paletas) flavors!

The case of delicious and gorgeously crafted popsicles.  Check out the one with the sliced kiwi!

Although this fresca de leche (strawberry & milk) popsicle doesn't look like anything special, its amazing!  Possibly the best popsicle I've ever tasted.  The strawberry doesn't just taste like a strawberry, it tastes like its made with the ripest, freshest, juiciest strawberries.  I only wished that I saved some room in my stomach to try more flavors!  I'll definitely be back to check out more of these $2 frozen fruity treats.

The fresca con creme (strawberries with cream) is also another popular sweet here.  I don't recall seeing this at any of the other ice cream spots so I had to try it out.  The taste is similar to a strawberry parfait, it even has granola sprinkled on it.  The cream is a little sweeter than normal yogurt.  Layers of fresh strawberries and cream are alternated and then topped with coconut, raisins, and granola for some added texture.  Its good, but I'd go back for the popsicles, they are a must eat here.

Address:               Los Manguitos
                              3133 Middlefield Rd.
                              Redwood City, CA
  

Type:                     Mexican/dessert/ice cream

Popular chomps:   paletas (popsicles)
                               fresca con crema
                               mangonada

Chomp worthy:      paletas
                               fresca con crema         

Holy Gelato

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I'm always on the lookout for late night dessert spots to satisfy some sweet cravings.  Holy Gelato's late night hours (11p) was tonight's sugar run.

 They have a good number of flavors to choose from as well as soy/vegan options.  Actually, they have quite a bit of vegan options, so much so that the vegan flavors (Mayan chocolate, sea salt chocolate, Thai tea, etc) are even better sounding than the regular gelato flavors.

A medium size gets you anywhere from 1 to 4 flavors.  Starting from bottom; clockwise:  copa mista, Mayan chocolate, Irish morning.  Copa mista is a blend of vanilla, chocolate, grounded pistachios, and almonds.  Pretty good stuff, but nothing wowish.  The texture of all the gelatos wasn't as creamy as most gelatos, although the soy based ones were a lot more gelato like than most soy based ice creams I've had.  Most soy gelatos/ice creams I've had are really mushy and melty in consistency.  A warning that the Mayan chocolate was spicy was taken a little lightly until the first lick.  A last minute spicy kick on the tail end of a rich chocolately taste.  Surprising, but well received.  Irish morning had a Irish coffee and chocolate flavor, but more chocolate than anything.

I came here specifically out of curiosity of the goat cheese gelato.  After the eye opening goat cheese gelato experience at Bulgarini's in Pasadena (see post HERE), I've been intrigued to see if San Francisco had anything close.  From bottom; clockwise: white pistachio, guava, goat cheese.  The goat cheese does resemble goat cheese, but its nothing close to the depth and intensity of Bulgarini's.  Still yum.  White pistachio was chosen just because I wanted to see what is a white pistachio since normally pistachio ice cream is green.  A slightly sweeter taste to this white pistachio than the normal pistachio ice cream.  Take Kern's guava nectar and make it into a sorbet and literally that is what the guava sorbet tastes like here.  Good, but a little too sweet to indulge in the whole scoop. 

Address:                 Holy Gelato
                                1392 9th Ave.
                                San Francisco, CA
   

Type:                       dessert/ice cream

Popular chomps:     copa mista
                                 goat cheese
                                 mango
 

Chomp worthy:        copa mista
                                  Mayan chocolate
                                  guava                                          

Crepe Temptations

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The order was already placed before I realized Crepe Temptations has a custom menu, where you can build your own crepe with toppings such as gummy bears, bacon, and even cornflakes.  Even more awesome, is that you can customize how crunch you want the crepe to be made (extra crunchy, of course).  I'll have to go back to concoct my own special creation, but for now I just had to enjoy my red velvet crepe.  Still on my red velvet kick from the red velvet latte at Bitter + Sweet (see post HERE), I had to get the red velvet crepe.  Large slices of red velvet crepe stuffed with vanilla ice cream and topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.  Loved the creativity of this place, but the crepe was on the soggy side, most likely due to all the ingredients stuffed inside.  Next time I'll have to ask for extra crunchy, no matter what.

There are a couple other cake stuffed in a crepe type options.  Tiramisu is another one.  Four slices of tiramisu cake layered around mint chocolate chip ice cream (you can pick whatever flavor ice cream you want) and then topped with whipped cream.  I do think the actual crepe at Genki Crepes (see post HERE) have a better taste and texture, but the creativity of all the crepes here make it a must repeat spot, not to mention its open till midnight.

       

Address:                  Crepe Temptations
                                 2575 Judah St.
                                 San Francisco, CA
 

Type:                       dessert

Popular chomps:      mango crepe
                                 red velvet
                                

Chomp worthy:        red velvet crepe       

Bitter + Sweet

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Bitter + Sweet is a tiny cafe in Cupertino that sells drip coffees and Humphrey Slocombe ice cream!  Almost like a small piece of San Francisco without having to drive an hour north, especially when you are feening for some Humphrey Slocombe ice cream (see post HERE).

Red velvet is so 2012, but who cares?  I've seen and eaten many red velvet cakes, like at SusieCakes (see post HERE), and put away a lot of red velvet cupcakes, even red velvet ice cream (see post HERE), but this is my first red velvet latte.  I'm not usually a latte person, but I couldn't resist.  Its smell just like red velvet, but it still takes like a latte with a hint of chocolate.  Cute idea, but I couldn't help be be paranoid that it would stain my mouth red (which it didn't). 

Address:                    Bitter + Sweet
                                   20560 Town Center Ln
                                   San Jose, CA
 

Type:                          dessert/cafe

Popular chomps:        Humphrey Slocombe ice cream
                                    red velvet cafe 

Chomp worthy:           red velvet cafe
                                    Humphrey Slocombe ice cream 

Bulgarini Gelato

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Bulgarini Gelato is hidden inside an empty plaza in sleepy Pasadena.  Up to this moment I thought that SF for sure had Southern California beat in the ice cream/gelato category, but wow, Bulgarini Gelato has shown me that they know a thing or two about making the best of fresh ingredients. 

The peach sorbet was so fresh and delicious, you can practically taste the fuzziness off of the peaches.  All the flavors here are excellent, but the absolute winner here is the goat's milk gelato.  The texture is more icey than creamy, but the taste is unbelievable!  You can practically taste the green grass from the goat milk, its that fresh tasting!  Its unlike anything I've ever tasted.  Little cocoa nibs break up the smooth texture of this delicious scoop of gelato.

A scoop of chocolate and another scoop of chocolate with sea salt.  Rich and chocolately with a smooth, creamy texture.  The chocolate with sea salt had surprising nibs of sea salt crystals hiding throughout the scoop of chocolate.

Address:                Bulgarini Gelato
                               749 E. Altadena
                               Pasadena, CA
 

Type:                      ice cream/gelato

Popular chomps:    goat's milk gelato
                                pistachio
                                

Chomp worthy:       goat's milk gelato        

Mikawaya Mochi

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LA's Japantown is speckled with all types of sweet treats.  Of course, one of them has to be mochi ice cream, although there is a regular mochi store down the street.

Besides the mochi ice creams, Mikawaya Mochi also sells shaved ice and regular ice cream.  The mochi ice cream comes in the regular flavors (green tea, mango, vanilla, chocolate, etc), and they also come in the more exotic flavors for a little extra.

From top, left:chocolate mint, coconut, creme brulee, and plum wine.  Also, on hand were guava, toasted almond, and pistachio.  All were pretty disappointing and nothing close to the fantastic mochi ice cream at Jimbo's back home (see post HERE).  Most of them were much too soft, both the mochi outside the ice cream and the ice cream itself.  The ice cream flavors were bland and didn't have that pop where you could distinguish what flavor it was.

The inside of the mint chocolate chip mochi has mini chocolate chunks.

 

Address:                  Mikawaya
                                 118 Japanese Village Plz Mall
                                  Los Angeles, CA
 

Type:                         Japanese/desserts

Popular chomps:       mochi ice cream

Chomp worthy:          nothing  

Mission City Creamery

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Mission City Creamery is situated in the oddest location, right along a quiet street in the middle of Santa Clara.  This homemade ice creamery serves up freshly made ice cream with always changing flavors.

Its definitely not at the level of Bi-Rite (see post HERE) or even San Jose's Treatbot (see post HERE), but it does get points for trying.

One great thing about this ice cream is the texture.  Its has the perfect balance of creamy and soft.  The peppermint stick ice cream was cool and minty with surprising bits of peppermint candy.

The salted caramel ice cream seemed like it would be a total winner, but it was a big disappointment.  It lacked the strong saltiness that Bi Rite had (see post HERE).  If I didn't know it was salted caramel, I would have never guessed it.

    

Address:                  Mission City Creamery
                                 2905 Park Ave.
                                 Santa Clara, CA  
 

Type:                        ice cream

Popular chomps:      caramelized banana
                                  salted caramel
                                  honey lavender
                                  pistachio pineapple 

Chomp worthy:         peppermint stick  

John's Ice Cream

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John's ice cream serves up $1 scoops!  Not only do they have ordinary flavors like chocolate and vanilla, but they have the odd ones like cheese corn, ube, and birthday cake.

The ice cream is really soft and melts pretty fast so you have to make sure you lick quite often.  Not sure if I've been exposed to too much fancy ice cream, but the flavors were very muted.  The chocolate didn't have a very strong taste, but the Thai iced tea wasn't bad.

Address:                 John's Ice Cream
                                2204 Shattuck Ave.
                                Berkeley, CA
    

Type:                       ice cream

Popular chomps:     ice cream     

Chomp worthy:       ice cream     

Tin Pot Creamery

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Artisanal ice cream is finally making its way outside of San Francisco.  So far I've tried Treatbot in San Jose (see post HERE) and now Tin Pot Creamery on the Peninsula in Palo Alto's Town and Country center.  The shopping center can be a little difficult to maneuver around, but this ice cream shop is located next to CVS.  It's actually really close to Asian Box (see post HERE).

The flavors include a wide spectrum including the standards (chocolate) to a little wild (sweet cream with honey balsamic swirl) to the fruity (mango sorbet).  They even have a vegan ice cream, which (from eavesdropping on the crowd) sounded like it was pretty spot on.  As always, they offer free tastings of all their flavors.

 

The sweet cream with honey balsamic swirl was delicious.  Not Bi-Rite status (see post HERE), but definitely a welcome treat outside the city.  The flavor profile of this creamy concoction first started of a sweet note, then you get hit with even sweeter (probably from the honey), then the last remnants of your lick ends in a tangy zing.

At first glance, this looks like a mushy mess of ice cream, but they seemed to have had the ice cream outside of the case so I cannot verify if this actual ice cream is very soft or what.  That being said, the salted butterscotch was something different, especially when everyone seems to be doing their own play on Bi Rite's salted caramel.  Not exactly the same, but somewhat similar in flavor.  A little sweeter than the salted caramel, but still delicious in its own way.  Also, their cone has a fudgy surprise and the end of the cone.

   

Address:                   Tin Pot Creamery
                                 855 El Camino Real Ste 121
                                 Palo Alto, CA
 

Type:                         ice cream

Popular chomps:        salted butterscotch
                                  TCHO chocolate ice cream
                                  sweet cream with honey balsamic swirl

Chomp worthy:          salted butterscotch
                                  sweet cream with honey balsamic swirl     

Jimbo's

Pin It Now! This summer heat wave has me searching out more cold treats to cool me down.  Jimbo's is a small dessert shop in the middle of San Jose's Japantown that serves Bubbie's mochi straight from Hawaii.  Not just your standard mochi ice cream from Trader Joe's or Ranch 99, these mochis come in a wide variety of flavors.  About 15 flavors a month to be exact, with a couple as special flavors of the month.

All 15 flavors this month were:  green tea, mango, guava, strawberry, chocolate peanut butter, passion fruit, pistachio, chocolate coconut, lychee, strawberry dark chocolate, vanilla, and ultimate chocolate.  Vanilla and ultimate chocolate were the special flavors of the month.  While the the standard flavors were good, the taste shockers were pistachio, ultimate chocolate, strawberry dark chocolate, chocolate coconut, and chocolate peanut butter.  Although, they don't really tell you what each of the flavors were when they serve you the tray of bubbies, its sort of fun to guess which ones are what.

Biting into one of the more "exotic" flavors of mochi (this one is chocolate coconut), you can see the exterior (mochi) is a different color than the ice cream inside.  Also, the handmade bubbies have a slightly thinner layer of mochi, which I think works well with the ice cream.  Since they are handmade, the mochi is chewier and more delicate in texture.

The Jimbo roll here is a must get!  A sushi roll made with hot dog ($.75 extra for a hot link) and pickled vegetables (takuan) and a spicy mayo sauce.  A couple slices of amazingly crispy and fresh tasting takuan are give on the side for some added crunch.  The rice to hot dog ratio is spot on.  Just looking at this roll makes it seem like it would be heavy, but its actually quite light and a nice snack size.  Having had many a spam musubi and sushi roll in my lifetime, I left the store still thinking about how delicious this was. 

Address:                  Jimbo's
                                 170 Jackson St.
                                 San Jose, CA
 

Type:                       dessert/ice cream/Japanese/Hawaiian

Popular chomps:     ice cream
                                 mochi ice cream (bubbies)
                                 Jimbo roll
                                 black sesame sauce

Chomp worthy:        mochi ice cream
                                 Jimbo roll