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Ice cream lovers rejoice! Salvation from the heat wave is here, and it's in the form of L.A.'s own outpost of one of our favorite creameries in the country, Salt & Straw. Opening officially in Larchmont Village today, the ice cream shop is conveniently situated next to Go Get Em Tiger, both right across the street from the Larchmont Farmers Market. Which is just as well, as the flavors are driven by SoCal produce and collaborations with local foodcrafters.
The Maleks have partnered with several purveyors for their all-new local flavors, including Ojai Olive Oil, Tutti Fruiti Farms, Compartes Chocolates, Rockview Farms, Laura Ann's Jams, Greenbar Distillery, Sidecar Doughnuts, Bukart Farms, and more. They're also sourcing their milk and cream from Rockview Dairy out of Downey.
"What was really exciting about coming down here was the produce that we just don't have access to in Portland, especially citrus, and then seeing the amazing stuff that people are doing with that," says Tyler.
There are five familiar flavors from their Portland outpost that fans will recognize, including the classic sea salt ice cream with caramel ribbons and the freckled Woodlblock chocolate. But other than that they've wiped the slate clean, crafting innovative creations that will get food nerds totally giddy.
Some of our favorites were the California peaches with lemon crumble, which tastes like cobbler in ice cream form with a nice hint of acidity that's elemental in a great fruit pastry; the avocado strawberry sorbet with just the slightest kiss of cream; the fresh sweet summer corn buttermilk; and the wildly creative black olive brittle and goat cheese ice cream, which serves as a cheese board in a cone. And if that doesn't do it for you, there's always the spoon chute, where your metal tasting spoons are disposed of under the counter instead of in a sticky container on the counter.
In addition to scooping sundaes, shakes and the like, Salt & Straw is also serving as an outlet for several Oregonian favorites like Jacobsen's sea salt, Stumptown coffee, and Pok Pok's lovely, addictive drinking vinegars also known as shrubs. (They're the sole LA purveyor for those, at least untilAndy Ricker's Chinatown Pok Pok locations open next year.)
It seems to be part of a larger Oregonian exodus into L.A., with Stumptown, Pok Pok, and now Salt & Straw setting up shop.
"We could tell when we started coming down here about a year and a half ago that things were really starting to bubble. There's always been amazing food here, but the innovation that's going on here with the craft artisans, we just knew it was coming," says Kim. "Everybody wants to be here now."
By all means, welcome!
