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Call us nitpickers or details people, but it's the little things in life—and in the food world—that get us excited. Whether it be an off-the-wall menu item, a particularly stylish bathroom or a restaurant's signature scent, we get stoked on the minutiae that makes our dining scene unique. Consider this the sacred space where we feel safe to express our current obsessions and openly explore our favorite things.
What it is: Vanilla and cinnamon flavored ice cream studded with hearty chunks of doughy fried churros.
Why it's rad: Los Angeles really embraces the craft of creameries, and many outside brands have taken note. McConnell's, a company that's been making ice cream in Santa Barbara since 1949, recently joined the likes of Portland's Salt & Straw, opening up their L.A. storefront earlier this week.
Their stand in Grand Central Market—conveniently located next to Wexler's Deli, whose house smoked lox and bagels are also a fixation of ours—sells 16 flavors of their small batch ice creams made with organic milk and raw, natural ingredients.
Though we found some of their other flavors to be a bit icey, the texture of their churros con leche is off-the-charts creamy and dreamy. It needs no warming and is ready to eat straight out of the freezer, and has a gorgeous light brown color. The spice-laden Sri Lanken cinnamon and vanilla-forward flavors remind us of a really great horchata or the milk from the bottom of a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
We're not the kind that puts back an entire pint without batting an eye, but McConnell's churros con leche was so good we got to the bottom before realizing that we had to take a photo—hence the sad little scoop in the shot above. It really is eyes-roll-to-the-back-of-your-head good.
How much it'll cost you: You can get it as a scoop for $4.25, or as a "Churros Con Sundae" topped with salted caramel sauce, pepita seed brittle and whipped cream for $6.75.
Where to find it: You can head to Grand Central Market for scoops, or check your local grocery store for pints. We've seen them at Whole Foods and Gelson's regularly.
McConnell's Fine Ice Creams, 317 Broadway, Downtown, 213-624-2378
