Tag: insearchofascoop

Riding High in Denver

I recently returned to Denver, which meant another opportunity for some homemade ice cream. After a stop at the zoo for God Save the Cream, I went to my most anticipated Denver stop: High Point Creamery.

There are tons of places to get ice cream in Denver, and if you ask why I chose this one, all I can say is it was a combination of reading reviews and intuition. By the time I arrived at one of their several locations, I was eager to get started. I do love ice cream!

I began by trying several flavors, which can feel indulgent on a busy evening. My friend Melanie quickly sampled and chose Tin Cup Whiskey with Pistachio Brittle for her double scoop (a small). After a couple of tries, got one of that and one Earl Grey with Shortbread. And I, of course, got the ice cream flight, which gets you five scoops and a topping in an adorable wooden tray.High Line Creamery, Denver, CO | In Search of a Scoop

Here are the flavors we tried:

Earl Grey with Shortbread: Ross enjoyed this a lot. It’s a fun alternate to coffee and the shortbread made it even more interesting. However, this very tasty ice cream wasn’t in the same league as the Earl Grey from Van Leeuwens in New York City.

Coconut Creme Brûlée: This fabulous and fun flavor is both vegan and gluten-free. It would have been a fun and exciting stand-alone flavor if you enjoy coconut.

The remaining five flavors were what I got in my flight, and I paired them with hot fudge.High Line Creamery, Denver, CO | In Search of a Scoop

Salty Dog Chocolate: This is a lighter chocolate with a bit of sea salt. It reminded me of a classic chocolate shake in its flavor and maybe even its smooth texture. It’s not going to shock you and it’s very enjoyable. Especially with hot fudge.

Rose Gold: This is strawberry and rose with white chocolate ganache. I found that the bites seem alternately floral and fruity. I really dug this. It’s an experience. Not bad with hot fudge.

Chamomile with Strawberry Swirl: I honestly thought this was a grownup version of rainbow sherbet. Ross found it almost like a lemon cake, which I get. It wasn’t quite as smooth as some other flavors.

Tin Cup Whiskey with Pistachio Brittle: I found all the elements here super tasty. It’s crunchy and delicious brittle. Perfect pairing and it’s all awesome. Great texture for ice cream here! This one definitely stole the show.

Brown Sugar Cinnamon: This is heavy on the cinnamon; the sweetness is great but I don’t know if it stands out as brown sugar particularly. I am in love with this! It’s super smooth and still had a touch of graininess, perhaps due to the brown sugar? Surprisingly good with hot fudge.

The hot fudge itself was a grainier, high end chocolate that they either make themselves or order from a high end chocolatier. It’s very tasty and a thinner consistency than your average hot fudge. Yum.

Prices here were very reasonable for a city. $4.25 for two scoops, $5.25 for three or if you need a flight it will cost you $9.25.

High Point Creamery was well worth a trip. There were several addition wacky and normal flavors I never got to try. Definitely a great place to visit in Denver!

If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy my reviews of Sweet Action and God Save the Cream in Denver.

p.s. Thanks for supporting my blog by doing your usual online shopping via my Amazon affiliate link!

God Save the Cream in Denver, CO

On a recent visit to the Denver Zoo, trusted friends informed me that we should be sure to visit the BBQ food truck for a meal and for their delicious, artisan ice cream. Being no fools, we did exactly that, and got to sample God Save the Cream, a Denver company bringing their small batch ice cream to the area.God Save the Cream, Denver, CO | In Search of a Scoop

Unlike a more traditional ice cream shop, there were limited flavors, and we didn’t want to monopolize the counter by trying all of them. We were impressed that in addition to the five listed flavors, they had an additional three seasonal flavors, and all of them sounded amazing. Between the two of us, my husband and I got to taste some great flavors. I went with a double scoop and he went for a single, and at $5.49 and $4.29, the prices felt very reasonable for a scoop or two in a bigger city.

Here’s what we thought of God Save the Cream.God Save the Cream, Denver, CO | In Search of a Scoop

Berry Cobbler – According to Ross, this has a base similar to cheesecake, with very tasty cherries and a crumble that resembles a good graham cracker crust. The focus is on the base and the cherries (it’s very good), with the crumble complimenting those flavors without overpowering them. Ross found the base almost cake-like, and tangy.

God Save the Cream, Denver, CO | In Search of a ScoopHoney Smoked Vanilla – This wasn’t the creamiest base, but it’s very nice and pleasant, and I found it creamy enough. Honey and a smoky flavor makes for a fun accent with the vanilla.

Chocolate – The color looks light, but this is actually deep and dark, packing a punch like BBQ! This was a wow experience for sure. It’s super smooth and creamy, and it’s in the running for the best chocolate I’ve ever had! It’s seriously epic. So glad I tried this one.

It’s definitely worth visiting their website to find a scoop of God Save the Cream near you. Have some chocolate ice cream for me!

p.s. Thanks for supporting my blog by doing your usual online shopping via my Amazon affiliate link!

In Praise of a Store Brand

Just a quick note, today. I love finding homemade ice cream in my travels. Going out for ice cream is literally one of my favorite things. But my budget and my waistline don’t allow me to go out every day. And much as I may try to convince myself to make other choices, I just love having ice cream every night, so I usually do.

I have a lot of favorite ice cream brands, including Tillamook, Gifford’s and Breyer’s. But I’ve really been enjoying trying store brands! It’s an easy way to save money, and often it’s really good too!

At Walmart, of all places, we discovered the tastiness of the cheekily named Hashtag Chocolate. And at King Soopers/Kroger’s, we’ve found that while their peppermint and mint ice creams aren’t worth the time of day, their chocolate-based ice creams, of all sorts, have really knocked it out of the park. Be sure to try French Silk – it’s outrageously indulgent. On the East Coast, we’ve always enjoyed Hannaford ice cream and frozen yogurt.

I’d love some insight into which companies make store brands for the respective stores. I’m quite curious, and I wonder if it varies by flavor.

Also, pro tip: if you’re prone to eating too much ice cream, get some adorable tiny ice cream bowls. That way you can stuff them to the brim and feel indulgent.

Do you ever get store brand ice cream? And do you have any favorites to share?

Return to Sweet Cow

I don’t often give a second review to a place, but there’s an exception to every rule, right? Honestly, I’m not revoking my original review by any means. But my husband and I were in Boulder, Colorado and he wanted to return to Sweet Cow (rather than Glacier, which was our overall favorite in Boulder), and since I’d already returned to Glacier, I was happy for an excuse to visit Sweet Cow. Sweet Cow, Boulder, CO | In Search of a Scoop

We went to a different location than last time (not quite as large but with the same awesome merchandise), and we tried several new to us flavors. Here’s what we sampled: Sweet Cow, Boulder, CO | In Search of a Scoop

Hammonds Peppermint Bark – This was delicious and would be an awesome winter flavor. Peppermint was on pointe here, and the giant chunks of chocolate and white chocolate are high quality and very tasty. I’m not sure it all came together as one, particularly, but if you like peppermint and chocolate, there’s nothing to complain about here. It’s very tasty.

Bourbon Corn Flake – Obviously this has gluten in it, so only Ross tried it. He really enjoyed it. The bourbon flavor is subtle, but he found the cornflake texture to be somewhere in between soggy and crispy, and thought that was just right. Sweet Cow, Boulder, CO | In Search of a Scoop

Comida Horchata – Based on the drink, popular in Spain and Latin-American countries, this is rice-based with almonds and cinnamon and it was truly delightful. Ice cream texture was super creamy, basically perfect, and both Ross and I loved it and got a scoop. It was also surprisingly refreshing for summer – I would have imagined it would be heavier somehow.

Pica’s Watermelon Sorbet – I don’t know who Pica is, and I didn’t think to ask. But Boulder has a Mexican restaurant and if it’s the same Pica, I need to go there. This sorbet is so good! Keep in mind that I love watermelon, but Ross only likes artificial watermelon flavor (he thinks the fruit is too bland), and he actually loved this too. I found it to be a heightened, real watermelon taste. It’s so great! It’s a truly excellent texture for a sorbet, and it’s ridiculously refreshing. I got a scoop, which almost never happens when I’ve got real ice cream flavors to choose from!

Boulder is so lucky to have several great ice cream options. Homemade ice cream is the best, and you will do very well at Sweet Cow. This go around, the consistency was better than last time, so it does seem to vary somewhat from flavor to flavor.

Have you tried Sweet Cow? If you missed my first review, it’s here. And you may also enjoy reading about Glacier or Heifer and the Hen in Boulder.

A Sweet Treat at Sweet Cow

As you may recall, last week I shared my review of Glacier Homemade Ice Cream and Gelato in Boulder, Colorado. It was actually the first of three ice cream places during my visit! My second stop was Sweet Cow, another popular place with multiple locations in Boulder.

Sweet Cow, Boulder, CO | In Search of a Scoop

Sweet Cow also allows you to combine flavors in your cup. Thank goodness! Their ice cream wasn’t as creamy as Glacier’s, but it was creamy enough. It also had a touch of graininess to it, which reminded me of Vicki’s in Silver City, New Mexico.

The prices here are cheap, although the portions weren’t huge. But it felt ample.

Sweet Cow, Boulder, CO | In Search of a Scoop

Here’s what I thought of the individual flavors:

OXO Coffee – This is for a real coffee lover. You can really taste the granules and the whole coffee drinking experience. This is very different from Brigham’s, my standard go-to coffee ice cream. It has so much oomph! It’s amazing. Like a strong cappuccino. I love that it lets the bitterness of the coffee shine over the sweetness. The sweetness is there to balance it. This is delicious, but only get it if you love a strong coffee flavor.

Dutch Chocolate – This is pretty smooth, more so than other flavors here, but still with a touch of graininess. It’s a beautiful middle range chocolate. Like I’d expect from a Belgian Chocolate …it’s a really delicious chocolate. This is worthy of my top ten so far.

Adobe Chocolate – This doesn’t have a ton of initial flavor, but afterward the heat comes. It’s very fun, though it probably doesn’t make my top five of spicy chocolate ice creams.

Fruity Pebbles – Ross tried this because of the gluten. He said it tasted good, but the cereal wasn’t crunchy, so he wasn’t interested in it.

The Big Lebowski – This is a White Russian flavored ice cream. It’s delicious!

NY Cheesecake – This is exactly what Ross hoped it would be, to pair with the big Lebowski. He said the chunks of cheesecake are really good. (Alas, none for me.)

They also have a few vegan flavors, plus sorbets. And they have absolutely amazing merchandise! We were definitely tempted even before we tried the ice cream.

Sweet Cow, Boulder, CO | In Search of a ScoopSweet Cow has fun playing with flavors and creates a great atmosphere. Thank you, Sweet Cow!

Want to hear about other ice cream in the area? Try my article on Glacier. And for a trip to the past, here’s what I thought of Minneapolis’ Pumphouse Creamery.

p.s. Thanks for supporting my blog by doing your usual online shopping via my Amazon affiliate link!

A Boulder Brief

Well, it’s been a very, very busy week for ice cream here in Colorado. To celebrate our wedding anniversary, my husband and I spent a night in Boulder. Being our silly selves, I did some research and found three homemade ice cream places worth a scoop, so in about twenty seven hours, we managed to visit three parlors – plus a bakery for a gluten-free cupcake!

I will have my full report on each place in the coming weeks. Suffice to say that I’m full and Boulder is a great place for ice cream!

Ice cream in Boulder, CO | Ross and Jamie AdventureIce cream in Boulder, CO | Ross and Jamie AdventureIce cream in Boulder, CO | Ross and Jamie AdventureIce cream in Boulder, CO | Ross and Jamie AdventureIce cream in Boulder, CO | Ross and Jamie Adventure

p.s. Thanks for doing your usual Amazon shopping using my affiliate link!

Erin McKenna’s Bakery, Orlando

This week, I’m mostly straying from the pattern by covering Erin McKenna’s Bakery in Orlando, Florida! This is absolutely the place to go for people with food allergies and sensitivities and if Mark Bittman says they have the best donuts in the world, who am I to argue?

Erin McKenna’s can also be found in N.Y.C. and L.A., and it prides itself on being gluten-free, nut-free (besides coconut), dairy-free, soy-free and egg-free. It’s all vegan and it’s all delicious!

Eliza’s Bakery, Orlando, FL | In Search of a Scoop

Honestly, the soft serve is my least favorite of their offerings. When I bought this, it cost $7 for a large, though it did come with toppings – I got caramel and brownie. The toppings make it really fun, but as someone who can tolerate dairy, coconut milk soft serve just tastes like a decent soft serve yogurt.

Eliza’s Bakery, Orlando, FL | In Search of a ScoopEliza’s Bakery, Orlando, FL | In Search of a Scoop

The bakery, which is located at Disney Springs, the shopping destination at Disney World, is tiny, with only two small tables outside and none inside. But there’s beautiful outdoor seating on the water just a few feet away, and trust me – it’s all about the food here.

Be warned that these doughnuts don’t keep well; your best bet is to eat them quickly or refrigerate them.

They also offer cookies, cupcakes and cupcake tops, teabreads and much more.

Eliza’s Bakery, Orlando, FL | In Search of a Scoop

Oh. And they also have bagels! My only wish is that they’d carry smoked salmon or smoked salmon cream cheese. The bagels and the fake cream cheese are delightful!

So if I didn’t make it clear, the next time you’re at Disney World, you should visit Eliza’s. And if you have food allergies, this is your new favorite place. You’re welcome!

p.s. Thanks for supporting my blog by doing your usual online shopping via my Amazon affiliate link!

An Unexpected Fort Collins Ice Cream Option

Today I visited Emporium Kitchen and Marketplace at the Elizabeth Motel in Fort Collins. It’s a beautiful space, with popup shops for coffee and ice cream as well as a restaurant area to sit down for a meal or drinks. I’m told they also offer live music sometimes.

I’ve already covered Walrus Ice Cream, the local spot for homemade ice cream, as well as the delicious location for gelato, Amore. If you’re downtown, you’ve also got a Ben and Jerry’s as well as other chains nearby.

But my visit brought me to Emporium, and I’m glad it did. Though it’s on the pricier side, it’s a lovely environment for a treat. Thanks for the suggestion and the company, Megan!

What I tried:

Double Chocolate – It surprised me to realize it wasn’t super creamy. It was more milky, like gelato. But it was nice. It wouldn’t be my top pick.

Mint Chocolate Chip: This was great! It’s creamy and smooth, with nice chunks of chocolate and a good mint flavor.

I’d definitely order the latter again, and I’d like to try some of their other flavors, including Mocha Almond Fudge and Peanut Butter and Jelly. They had a nice looking coconut-based vegan flavor too.

The ice cream is made by Longview Creamery. They’re based in Colorado. I will definitely try them again when I see them.

I’m planning some fun projects for In Search of a Scoop in the upcoming year. If you’ve got ideas for blog posts or other suggestions, please let me know. And thanks for reading!

p.s. Thanks for supporting my blog by doing your usual online shopping via my Amazon affiliate link!