Monday morning I took BART over to Berkeley for lunch with Ethan (right), a Wilcox High School graduate (but a few years after me) who has been reading and commenting on this blog for some time.
It is interesting to hear the perspectives of someone from the same school but at a later date. And interesting to find out that some of the same teachers – Mrs. Owens, the AP English teacher, for example – were still there. Some things never change.
Based on Samantha’s recommendation, we sought out an ice cream shop in the Elmwood district on College Avenue called Ici (French for “here”). Opened by Mary Canales, graduate of Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse restaurant, all of the ice cream is made daily on the premises with the highest quality, freshest local ingredients.
The interior has a lovely European charm, clean and bright, with the current ten or so flavors listed in neat script on the walls. There are a variety of confections and cookies to accompany your ice cream.
Above: Sneaked peek into the back of the store where a pile of fresh melons will be turned into something wonderful.
The advantage of having multiple people is that you can try a greater variety of flavors:
Above: Molasses gingersnap ice cream, black cherry ice cream and peach habanero sorbet.
Above: Santa Rosa plum, white sesame praline and peach leaf ice milk
Here are my thoughts on the different flavors:
Molasses gingersnap ice cream: Rich flavor and nice contrast. Ginger flavor was very pronounced. Pleasant but maybe a little too heavy.
Black cherry ice cream: Very fresh cherries capture the flavor of summer along with refreshing vanilla. Very nice.
Peach habanero sorbet: The peach flavor was nicely balanced, not too assertive, with an interesting and unexpected chili bite that snuck in as the ice cream melted in your mouth.
Santa Rosa plum: Just like biting in to a fresh, ripe plum. The bright color was as vibrant as the juicy flavor of the ice cream.
White sesame praline: Such a clean, satisfying flavor with a southern sweetness and a crunch that contrasted nicely with the ice cream.
All things considered, it was worth the effort to take the bus across Berkeley and try this really good ice cream. It was also a pleasure to meet another reader of the blog.
And thanks again to Samantha for her recommendation.
christao408 
Wow, all of the flavors sound good. That shop looks really unique. You’ve gotta love places like that.
The flavors looks and sounds absolutely delicious!
yo, i love to have ice cream with bunch of people =p
OMG – ice cream is one of my favorites. Posting this is just cruel…
Intersting choices. Not at all “normal” flavors. Not sure I would be able to truly enjoy the one with habaneros but I would love to try the Santa Rosa plum. uuummm…
Lovely!
You are so spoiled, young man! Now bring me some of that ice cream!
ugh… I just saw the pics of the ice cream again while checking My Subscriptions. *drools*
That place sounds lovely. I’ll have to give it a try.For some reason the music from the old Iron Chef show started playing in my head as I read your thoughts on the ice cream flavors. ;-D
Ooh delicious. Just as I made myself a milkshake. 🙂 That molasses one sounds yum!
I want some of those rare varieties….particularly the fruity ones!! Plums…peaches …melons…yummy!!
@ElusiveWords – Matt, I think you are actually coming back to the page as some sort of narcissistic torture.
@jojobaDESIGNS – @TheCheshireGrins – @Dezinerdreams – @lcfu – @UFFda_oyVEY – Okay, group trip to the ice cream parlor.
@alextebow – You can really imagine it, can’t you. Today’s featured ingredient is seaweed. Okay, I’m going to make a seaweed-mint ice cream.
@stebow – I was hoping for Satsuma plum. That would be amazing.
@brooklyn2028 – You make your own milkshakes?
@curry69curry – Yes, of course the fruity ones for you, Curry.
Not fair that you would post the pictures when I am trying to lose weight and succeeding. I am sick with desire. Have you tried the brand known as ‘ cold slab ice cream?’ OMG! I had it in Chicago a few months back….. and it was orgasmic.
everything looked so great…cute shop & yummy ice cream
@ZSA_MD – I’ve had various brands of the “cold stone” ice cream. They are a bit much for me, as they seem more about excessive sweetness than anything else. The first time I had one, though, I was really impressed.
I very much enjoy Ici, when there is not a huge line (and there is often one!). I used to have my haircut two doors up. Now my “stylist” is in Rockridge and a few doors down on College from there I frequent Bittersweet, which is a wonderful cocoa and coffee emporium, with the added advantage of lots of international chocolate bars!
@christao408 – Yes I do cause I have every small appliance known to man. And I gotta need to make something in the blender!
@brooklyn2028 – I thought you might actually have a milkshake blender – unique design just to frappe a milkshake.
i have been to that ice cream place before. -Lan
ps. yummy.. the best place is bi-rite in san francisco.
I used to work in three different ice cream parlours. The last one I managed and we made our own ice cream. According to my family I make the best around. I have three ice cream makers and a restaurant sized waffle cone maker. No kidding! We LOVE ice cream. I just have to be careful not to make it too often.
@socaltransplant – Good ice cream is an amazing treat. It doesn’t take but a few bites to satisfy.