America's Best Ice Cream Cities
By Food & Wine
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Ice cream parlors across America are offering incredible takes on the quintessential summer dessert. Here are some of the nation's best spots for cool, creamy blends — from an artisan's boundary-pushing flavor combinations to a New England dairy's simple, superb small batches.
Why: Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
Jeni Britton Bauer creates some of the country's best ice creams, sorbets and frozen yogurts in imaginative flavors like wildberry lavender, Thai chili, and exceptional salty caramel.
Why: Mt. Desert Ice Cream
This already popular shop gained even more attention when President Obama and his family stopped by for cones at the Main Street location in July. (He ordered the coconut.) There's also a Jack Daniels flavor
Courtesy of Robin Calvert.
Why: Sweet Republic
This two-year-old shop prides itself on using exceptional ingredients, from local dairy to single-origin, fair-trade coffee beans for its espresso flavor.
Why: Toscanini's
In contention with Christina's for best local ice cream, this cult parlor wins for its burnt caramel flavor. The floor-to-ceiling windows are superb for people watching.
Why: Bubbie's Ice Cream
One fan of Keith Robbins' bite-size mochi (ice cream wrapped in a sweetened rice confection) is superchef Nobu Matsuhisa. A classic flavor is green tea.
Courtesy of Pumphouse Creamery
Why: Pumphouse Creamery
Barb Zapzalka's exceptional ice cream is made with organic milk and cream from a small dairy farm in Wisconsin. Sample flavor: Sea salt and caramel with praline pecans.
Courtesy of The Creole Creamery
Why: The Creole Creamery
Alongside fountain-shop classics like banana splits and sundaes, this local favorite features rotating ice creams in flavors like Creole Cream Cheese (made with a curdled cream cheese local to New Orleans).
Why: Bi-Rite Creamery
Almost everything at this excellent ice cream shop is made from scratch, including the marshmallows for the Rocky Road.
Why: Ici Ice Cream
Mary Canales, a former pastry chef at Berkeley's illustrious Chez Panisse, is now famous in her own right for phenomenal ice creams in flavors like brandied cherry and rose. Plus, cones are made in-house.
Why: Sweet Action Ice Cream
The constantly changing, inspired flavors at this 100 percent wind-powered ice cream shop include Oatmeal Stout, Strawberry Balsamic, and Baklava.
Courtesy of Woodside Farm Creamery
Why: Woodside Farm Creamery
The ice cream at this 1796 farm is made with super creamy milk from resident Jersey cows. The signature Peanut Butter & Jelly flavor is especially rich.
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