For ‘Jeni’ From the Block: “Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream”

The last time I was in Chicago I was determined to get to Jeni’s. It had been on my list the very next time I was in any city where there was a shop. I was purposely avoiding having it shipped to my house when I could just get some during a visit to a city that had one. Or at least that was my plan. A plan that was ingenious except for the fact that I would run out of time eating on that trip.

This leads us to the present day.

Naturally I have been signed up for the newsletter so I get updates on all of the original flavors that come along. I don’t know what I was waiting for, perhaps the opportunity when I would no longer be able to resist ordering a few pints to be delivered to my house. After Chicago’s swing and a miss, I had made up my mind that this would eventually happen.

It was the email I received last week that sealed the deal.

Normally I would have deleted it without closer examination so as not to tempt my self but the words “Nashville” and “Loveless Café” were seen out of the corner of my eye. Jeni’s had made an ice cream with the biscuits and jam from the Loveless Café!!!! Best idea ever!!

A few years ago I visited Memphis, Tennessee and during that time I spent one day in Nashville. That was nowhere near enough time to explore all that city has to offer. In fact over this past year I have heard about several friends going there on vacation. It also is now a destination for bachelorette parties. I am so ahead of the times.

While Nashville has many historic sites, concerts, and unique shopping experiences to offer, I believe the true gems of this city are the restaurants. The food you will eat in Nashville will change your life there is no doubt about it.

The best restaurant in Nashville without question is the Loveless Café (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2011/06/for-rock-n-roll-ribs-and-reflection_04.html). If anything this place is worth the trip if for no other reason. As they say “home is where the biscuits are”. True story.

But once you arrive in Nashville, after hitting up the Loveless Café, try to fit in the Grand Ole Opry. Standing in the circle of trust, as I call it, is really something to cross off your bucket list whether its there or not.

Now those that are interested will get all the details from my Nashville and Memphis blogs (see link above). But as for Jeni’s we need to return to Brooklyn. When my package arrived yesterday I couldn’t wait to tear into it.

While opening the box I almost forgot what flavors I ordered. Boy that was like Sophie’s Choice. There are so many flavors one more different than the next I couldn’t decide how many pints to order after I decided on the products I “needed”. There are frozen yogurts and ice cream sandwiches galore. I only skimmed the long list because I knew I would get emotionally attached to them all.

I finally got a grip and ordered the Sweet Cream Biscuits and Peach Jam (obviously) along with Pistachio Honey. I almost went with the Roasted Strawberry Buttermilk but I love pistachios so that made the cut instead. Looking over the menu now I just noticed the Watermelon Buttermilk Frozen Yogurt and the Goat Cheese with Red Cherries Ice Cream that sound so refreshingly enticing right now. As it is I am trying not to make a return trip to the freezer to visit my two new best friends.

P.S. It wasn’t until I made this list that I realized my apparent addiction to buttermilk. No wonder I was in food heaven while in Nashville’s biscuit country.

I didn’t know which one to try first. The lucky winner was Pistachio Honey. I was thinking that it would taste like honey and not pistachio. My first spoonful was sweet. It had a nutty component but the honey was subtle. I could make that pint disappear easily though it felt quite heavy in hand.

You know what came next.

I was absolutely addicted to the biscuits at the Loveless Café. I bought some jams to take home although nothing compares to being there. The ice cream was interesting and each bite tasted different. I totally got a bite of biscuit right away. Then I purposely hunted for a nice bite of the peach jam.

I went back and forth between each flavor savoring as I swirled it around in my mouth. I feel like the biscuit and jam had a bit of a buttermilk bite to it. It wasn’t exactly sour but it was a potent flavor. I think it’s more of an acquired taste and I shouldn’t have tried both at the same time, they are so different. I intend to still spend some serious time getting to know it better.

Jeni Britton Bauer is the brilliant mind behind Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream. She has been in the business for over twenty years and has a background of art and desserts. This makes perfect sense. The first ice cream shop opened in 2002 with a store in Columbus, Ohio. There are now stores in Chicago, Charleston, L.A., Nashville and Atlanta plus several in Ohio State.

Besides the inventive flavors and natural ingredients, Jeni’s is a B Corporation, which means they are highly aware of and try to reduce their environmental imprint wherever they can. A company that cares about the quality of their products as well as their mark on the world is remarkable.

 “No one else makes ice cream like Jeni Britton Bauer.”

– Food & Wine Magazine

Jeni has also written award-winning cookbooks so that you can make her sweet treats at home. She is seriously an accomplished woman.

With the experience of ordering online behind me I know my next step into Jeni’s world will be to visit one of her so called Scoop Shops.

I hope within the next year or so to visit Charleston, South Carolina. Naturally Jeni’s is there. Fingers crossed this will be where our paths will cross once again.

Side note- I just realized I am drinking peach flavored Honest Tea (best brand of all time) as I write this. Something peachy is in the air.

For More Information:

https://jenis.com/

http://www.lovelesscafe.com/