July is National Ice Cream Month and a good time to try the cool scoops at these specialty ice cream shops in the Westside:
5. Sweet Rose Creamery
Sweet Rose Creamery is the go-to place for smooth, artisanal ice cream and sorbets made daily from scratch in small batches. Vanilla, chocolate, coffee, fresh mint with chocolate chips, and salted caramel are always on the menu, plus there’s a monthly seasonal menu that reflects what looks good at the farmers market. Right now there’s lots of summery flavors, like summer corn, peaches and cream, and nectarine sorbet. Everything – including the cones, toppings, sauces, marshmallows, caramel, brownie bits, and peanut butter – is hand-made in house, and the flavors are pure and intense.
• 225 26th Street, Brentwood Country Mart. 310.260.2663, sweetrosecreamery.com.
4. Scoops Westside
If you like adventurous ice cream flavors, Scoops is your kind of place. Scoops is famous for the wild, fun flavors created by former painter turned ice cream flavor master Tai Kim. Since the first Scoops opened in 2006 near L.A. City College, it’s become a local cult favorite and has spawned more locations including this one in the Westside. Some wacky flavors like pizza ice cream (ricotta, basil, bacon, tomato) have appeared here, but the malty Brown Bread ice cream is always pretty popular. Don’t leave without writing your flavor idea on the “Flavor To Suggest” communal whiteboard.
• 3400 Overland Avenue, Palms. Closed Sundays. 323.405.7055, www.scoopswestside.com.
3. Ice Cream Lab
Molecular gastronomy meets ice cream at this Beverly Hills shop where your ice cream is flash frozen with liquid nitrogen rather than churned. “Lab techs” make your order on the spot using a cream or yogurt base and your choice of flavor. Tthe ice cream has no artificial coloring or preservatives and is certified kosher.
• 9461 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. 310.795.6505, icecreamlab.com.
2. Bulgarini Gelato
The gelato hand-made by owner Leo Bulgarini has earned many high-profile fans and is often included near the top of LA’s best ice cream lists. The original gelateria in Altadena has expanded to the Westside with an outpost in Culver City. Try the pistachio gelato or goat milk gelato mixed with roasted cacao nibs.
• 8686 Washington Blvd., Culver City. 310.815.1723, bulgarinigelato.com.
1. Playa Provisions
This new beachy, neighborhood-friendly restaurant/cafe/whiskey bar has an ice cream parlor called Small Batches where you can get homemade ice cream, milk shakes, malteds, popsicles, and ice cream sandwiches. It’s the latest in good eating from culinary couple Brooke Williamson (a Top Chef alum) and Nick Roberts, who also run The Tripel, the popular gastropub down the street. Williamson says the Chocolate Malted Crunch is their most popular ice cream flavor of the moment; other current flavors include Roasted Strawberry, Thai Iced Tea, and a dairy-free Coconut Marcona Almond. The scoops here are among the lowest-priced on this list: $3.50 for a single scoop, $5 for a double.
• 119 Culver Blvd. (between Pacific Ave. and Esplanade St.). Playa del Rey, 310.683.5019.
