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"Another ice cream shop," you say with a sigh. It seems like every other week a new ice cream shop is opening up in sunny Los Angeles, and eye-rolling would be warranted if the ice cream we've been scoring weren't so fantastically top notch. In the past couple of years—adding to our own prestigious crop of such home-grown brands as Scoops, Carmela, Sweet Rose Creamery, and Quenelle—L.A. has become home to some seriously premiere out-of-towners, like Salt & Straw, McConnell's, Big Gay Ice Cream, and Three Twins. Now comes Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams from Ohio, and trust me, it's a good get.
(Photo courtesy of Jeni's Splendid Art & Design)
Here's the scoop: The Midwest company, founded by Jeni Britton Bauer, has been around since 2002, racking up locations from Cleveland to Atlanta. The newest spot in Los Feliz opened last Friday. The space is a sleek and bright with white walls, black accents, marble counter tops, and modern lighting fixtures. The long glass freezer case is filled with over 20 ice creams, sorbets and yogurts with interesting combos of ingredients, which are are described on little white cards.
Isa Abdulhaskin helps a customer navigate the flavors. (Photo by Valentina Silva/LAist)
As expected these days, most everything at Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams is made by hand. The sweet smell of waffle cones being pressed on site hits you the minute you walk in the door, and the "whooped cream," as they call it, is whipped up in large metal bowls behind the counter. The ice creams are made in small batches with products from local (meaning Ohio) farms, amounting to some rather nice textures and deep flavors—the signature Salted Caramel is sweet and smokey, tasting like straight-up frozen caramelized brown sugar while the Toasted Brioche with Butter and Jam has ripple after ripple of tart black currant jam and crumbles of brioche (yes, you can taste the butter) throughout.
Along with the Salted Caramel, the most populars flavors a week in, according to the shop, include Brown Butter Almond Brittle and classic vanilla bean. Made especially for the Los Angeles store, there's also the Wheatgrass, Pear & Vihno Verde sorbet, but personally, I'd rather have the L.A. Somedae sundae, featuring Wildberry Lavender and Pistachio-Honey ice creams done up with bananas, honey-butterscotch sauce and hot fudge. Ice cream sandwiches and floats are also available.
(Photo by Valentina Silva/LAist)
At the back of the store, there's a mini marketplace stocked with four-packs of Dry soda, Britton Bauer's books on ice cream making, jars of hot fudge and butterscotch, Krema peanuts, and more. There's also a freezer full of pints and ice cream sandwiches for take home. There are plenty of benches for sitting.
(Photo by Valentina Silva/LAist)
Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream is located at 1954 Hillhurst Avenue; 323-928-2668, Hours are currently Monday to Sunday 11am-11pm. Prices are $5.50 for a small; $6.50 for a trio.
Valentina Silva is a freelance food and culture writer. You can follow her via Instagram and Twitter.
