Even though it’s officially autumn, ice cream is still at the forefront of everyone’s minds in the San Francisco Bay Area. Artisan ice cream shops are popping up almost weekly and those shops that have been around awhile longer are attracting national attention for the sublime and inventive flavors being put out for all to enjoy.
Bi-Rite Creamery Makes Small Batch, Artisanal Ice CreamBi-Rite Creamery in San Francisco’s Mission District is a prime example of what happens when small-batch, artisanal ice creams and sorbets are crafted. Made from Straus family organic dairy products, seasonal ingredients, this ice cream will have you feeling as if you’ve never had real ice cream before Bi-Rite. Their flavors change often but the following mainstays can usually be found: salted caramel, roasted banana, Ricanles (cinnamon ice cream with Snickerdoodles) and crème fraiche to name a few. The also have the standards; chocolate and vanilla but elevate their strawberry to include balsamic vinegar which anyone who’s ever tasted that pair know that it’s a match made in heaven. Situated near Dolores Park the location couldn’t be better for a store selling frozen treats and the tiny store can be found easily as there’s always a line snaking down the block. Service is quick and efficient and if you’re in a hurry and know what you want, hop the line, pick up a pint (or a quart) and head to the register.
Three Twins Creamery offers Marin County Residents an Eco-Friendly OptionAcross the Golden Gate Bridge is Three Twins Creamery in San Rafael. While they also have locations in San Francisco as well as the Oxbow Market in Napa, the San Rafael location is where Three Twins got their start. Completely green, the is a store that not only serves up delicious ice cream but does so in a sustainable way; they use organic ingredients, offset their emissions and use compostable serving dishes. All of these things add up to a store committed to serving a great product while doing so in an environmentally friendly manner. Offering more certifiably organic flavors than any other ice cream brand out there, Three Twins has mastered the standards (Madagascar Vanilla, Strawberry Fields and their Bittersweet Chocolate) while offering some inventive creations meant to tempt anyone with such concoctions as PBC3 a peanut butter confetti crunch and The Chocolate Project which includes chocolate ice cream with flecks of dark chocolate, cacao nibs, chocolate cookies and chocolate chips.
Screamin' Mimi's Uses Best Ingredients Wine Country has to OfferFurther up North in Sebastopol is Screamin’ Mimi’s which follows the same philosophy as Bi-Rite and Three Twins in that they too use only the freshest and most natural ingredients in their ice cream, which is made fresh everyday. Choosing from over 300 different recipes, this ice cream is inventive – try olive oil for instance. Not simply ice cream with olive oil poured on top of it (which is all the rage these days) but actual olive oil ice cream. The taste is intensely mellow –with a true olive flavor tempered by a rich sweetness that makes this one a customer favorite. Located on a corner near downtown Sebastopol, Screamin’ Mimi’s is a beautiful drive from the city especially if you take the scenic 1 route through apple orchards and vineyards. Service is small town nice and since each order is priced according to weight you’ll really take your time thinking about how much you want of each flavor, so you and your server will be fast friends.
Bi-Rite Creamery, Three Twins and Screamin’ Mimi’s are only a sampling of the delicious, small-batch producers in the San Francisco Bay Area and yet all share the unique distinction of being the best at what they do. Lucky for us we have three to choose from!
Bi-Rite Creamery
3692 18th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
415- 626-5600
Three Twins Ice Cream
641 Del Ganado Road
San Rafael, CA 94903
415- 492-8946
Screamin’ Mimi’s
6902 Sebastopol Avenue
Sebastopol, CA 95472
707-823-5902
 |
