triple scoop delight

If you follow along, you know that we have a serious sweet tooth.  It’s a curse for the figure, but a blessing for the soul because dessert simply makes life better and is, a lot of times, THE answer.  Bad breakup? Tub of ice cream. Want to get creative in the bedroom?  Chocolate syrup. Birthdays? Cake. Halloween? Candy. All these events have one thing in common and we’re not mad at it.

brunch.

When our FAVORITE ice cream shop opened up its second Los Angeles location on Abbott Kinney in Venice recently and then asked us to come in for an exclusive private tasting of the new March flavors, we tried to play it cool – I mean it’s LA afterall so we’re all ‘blasé, blasé’ right? Wrong!  We were stoked.  Is this what it feels like to make it?!?

so LA.

First, a little cheat sheet about Salt & Straw:  It originated in Portland and the name helms from how people kept things cold in the pre-freezer era: by using salt to make things freeze & then packing it in straw to keep them cold (look at us being all educational). They preach a “farm-to-cone” philosophy (how LA) and the LA flagship shop is in Larchmont Village (you’ve seen like 15 instas of us there).  They don’t judge by the number of samples you try — we would know since we usually taste between 5-8 before settling on the first flavor (just want to cover our bases) . The flavors are bold, unique, ambitious, memorable and downright DELISH.  They offer vegan, gluten and dairy-free options that you would never be able to tell are so.  And lastly, by no surprise, there is typically a line to get the goods — we’re talking club style velvet ropes on the sidewalk…surprisingly there is no bouncer…yet!

Now, not only do they have the OG classic flavors on the reg, but they also add new seasonal flavors into the mix each month — perfect for both those who stick to what they know they like (Alie) and those who love to branch out and try the latest and greatest (Alex).  Based on our glorious adventure last Sunday morning (yea we had ice cream for brunch), here is the EDDR definitive ranking of the March flavors (from least to most favorite):

March Flavors.

5. Matcha Matcha Man

4. Lemon Amaretto Sour Sherbet (sadly no booze though)

3. Pots of Golden Rainbows (YESSSSS Lucky Charms — tastes like your childhood…or yesterday’s breakfast)

2. Salted Carmel Cupcake (yes there are homemade cupcake chunks tossed in)

1. The top prize goes to…drum roll please…Coconut with Petunia’s Salted Caramel
   

   that’s that stuff we do like.

   Bars (how can it taste like this AND be dairy-free? Please advise – we’re confused here. And does this mean for once we choose the healthy option?)

It’s getting to be that time of year where the West Side is the best side (cue long days at the beach and cruising the PCH with your windows down) —so now’s the time to visit the new site and get your ice-cream on (ideally the dairy free option because hi…bikini season).  BUT, it’s not going to be the newbie for long because there are 2 NEW LA locations opening soon in Studio City and The Arts District!!!

’til next time.

To all our readers, you’re welcome. And to Jackie who hosted us on Sunday morning, THANK YOU,

A²