Hello BBBB Friends:
BBBB is taking a break this weekend, so I thought it would be fun to update last year’s most popular post and give a shout-out to our local Heights ice cream shops. The Heights is churning up new, highly creative ice cream, from artisan to alcohol-infused to savory yet sweet offerings. I gave up trying to rank them; they all have delicious offerings. Please keep in mind that the “most unique flavors” tend to be seasonal, so be sure to enjoy them while you can!
I’ll be back next week with the best new real estate offerings in the Heights!
SPEAKING OF ICE CREAM
Beat the heat and celebrate the last bit of summer in the Bayou City! We’re inviting you and yours to have a scoop or cone on us at our annual ice cream social this coming Saturday, September 23rd, from 12-2 pm at Jenni’s Splendid Ice Creams located at 375 W 19th St. This is our fun, refreshing way to say thanks to our friends and clients to end the summer while supporting one of our favorite local ice cream shops. Here is a link to your invitation. We hope to see you there!
Let’s go look at houses or talk about selling yours!!!
Becky
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Becky Davis
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*Note: For purposes of BBBB, the “Heights” is defined as the area between I-10 and Loop 610 N and between Shepherd and I-45).
TOP 10 ICE CREAM SHOPS IN THE HOUSTON HEIGHTS!
In Alphabetical Order – All Are Worthy!
Amy’s Ice Creams
- 1901 N Shepherd #3
- Most popular flavor: Mexican Vanilla
- Most unique flavor: Belgian Chocolate
- Cost per pint: $9.50
- Locally sourced products, ice creams handcrafted in-house
- Austin-based, locally owned
Amy’s offers over 1600 flavors. When one 5-gallon tub is finished, it is replaced with a different flavor so there is always something new and delicious to try!
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Cloud 10 Creamery
- 711 A Heights Blvd
- Most popular flavor: Nutella w/Marshmallows or Brown Sugar Cookies & Cream
- Most unique flavor: Balsamic Vinegar w/Chocolate Cherry Jam
- Cost per pint: $9
- All-natural flavors & ingredients, no food coloring
- Locally owned-3 locations (ice cream made in common kitchen & distributed)
Flavors for Cloud 10 are developed by Executive Pastry Chef Chris Leung. There are always 24 flavors to choose from, with a variety of seasonal offerings. My current favorite is the Lavender with Peach Jam; however, the Toasted Rice with Sweet Soy Glaze is another good one to try. You can also find pints of Cloud 10 ice cream at HEB and Whole Foods.
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Dolce Neve Gelato
- 4721 N Main St
- Most popular flavor: Almond Custard
- Most unique flavor: Cassata (Ricotta Cheese, Chocolate Chips & Orange Peel)
- Cost per pint: $15
- Gelato, sorbet, and frozen custard
- Family owned, ice creams handcrafted in house
Located next to Hughie’s Vietnamese Grill. The flavors are rich and intense. Try the pistachio; it’s amazing!
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Honeychild’s Sweet Creams
- 600 North Shepherd (MKT)
- Most popular flavor: Texas Sheet Cake or Pecan Praline
- Most unique flavor: Blackberry Basil and Cherry Terragon w/ Cashews
- Cost per pint: $9
- Handmade frozen custards
- Locally owned by Heights resident
- Products are locally sourced and handcrafted in-house
Honeychild’s is a relative newcomer to MKT. If you haven’t been to MKT for shopping and dining, you should definitely go and round out your visit with a cone!
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Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
- 375 W 19th St
- Most popular flavor: Gooey Butter Cake (Cream cheese ice cream layered with crumbles of vanilla cake with a swirl of caramel-butterscotch sauce)
- Most unique flavor: Salted Licorice
- Cost per pint: $12
- No synthetic flavors or dyes
- Corporate-owned, ice creams are made in Ohio (FYI, the founder, Jeni, has a James Beard award)
Located in the former Carter & Cooley Deli across from Torchy’s Tacos. When I asked one of the employees what makes this shop special, she said “Jeni’s is inclusive and kind. It is a special place to work”. 😍 You can also find Jeni’s at Whole Foods and on Amazon.
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Milk + Sugar
- 1324 N Shepherd
- Most popular flavor: PB Cookies & Cream
- Most unique flavor: Happy Wife (sweet cream ice cream with almond pound cake pieces)
- Cost per pint: $12
- All toppings are made in-house and then mixed into a complimentary-flavored ice cream base.
- Motto: “Life is too short for plain vanilla.”
New to the Heights, Milk+Sugar is a mom & pop ice cream shop. The owners love creating flavors that you wouldn’t expect to be in ice cream form. Try the “Heart of Glass” flavor. It’s a cream cheese ice cream base with cinnamon sugar blondies mixed in. Yum!
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Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard
- 2802 White Oak
- Most popular flavor: Mango Italian Ice
- Most unique flavor: Swedish Fish Italian Ice
- Cost: Custard-$6.99/pint; Italian Ice-$7.50/qt
- Italian Ices & Frozen Custard made in-house
- Locally owned franchise
My personal favorite flavor is the Georgia Peach Italian Ice. Try a ‘Gelati’, which is layers of Italian ice & custard.
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Sweet Bribery
- 250 W 19th St
- Most popular flavor: Mint Chocolate Chip (made with fresh peppermint and Andes Chocolate Mints)
- Most unique flavor: Cereal Milk Cinnamon Toast Crunch (cereal is soaked in milk and the milk is the basis of the ice cream)
- Cost per pint: $12
- Locally owned, products made in house
Sweet Bribery recently merged with Craft Creamery, and they’ve added many new flavors. Brought over from Craft Creamery is a Persian treat: Bastani Rose Saffron Pistachio. You also have the option of complementing your ice cream with champagne, wine, or beer. Adult ice cream float, anyone?
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Smoosh
- 718 W 18th St
- Most popular flavor: Cookie’s & Cream
- Cost per pint: $9
- Ice creams are crafted in a central location and distributed to the stores.
- Locally owned. The Heights location is the original store.
While the flavors are basic, Smoosh is about the experience. Pick your baked goody (cookie, donut, churros or waffles) and ice cream, and it will be smooshed into a sandwich for easy eating.
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Underground Creamery
- Order pickup is at Pudgy’s Fine Cookies at 1010 N Shepherd.
- Most popular flavor: Apparently, all of them
- Cost per pint: $15
- Locally owned
Underground Creamery is the brainchild of Josh Deleon, who personally produces hundreds of pints of artisanal ice cream each week. Keep an eye on the “menu” tab at Underground Creamery.com to get the scoop on when a new batch will be available. You can also sign up at hotplate.com/undergroundcreamery to receive a text message with a 2-minute warning that a new batch is ready to drop. Inventory sells out in less than a minute, so you have to have nimble fingers to score a pint.
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But wait, there’s more…
This is just the latest and greatest; however, there are still lots more on my list that you can check out here:
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