45902 Fri May 12 21:25:21 -0700 2006 18 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 227522 The Ciao Bella/Strauss ice cream discussion got me thinking... What's the best straight-up no-frills vanilla ice cream available in the East Bay? And can I get it at Berkeley Bowl? Fri May 12 21:25:21 -0700 2006 0 OakTownHound 1 227526 Sketch in Berkeley on 4th st, no contest. You cannot get it at Berkeley Bowl. Well worth the extra drive. sketchicecream.com Fri May 12 23:29:58 -0700 2006 227522 0 Morton the Mousse 2 227527 I've been to Sketch, but they are not no-thrills vanilla. They're the closest thing to gelato that ice cream has to offer. Fri May 12 23:36:24 -0700 2006 227526 0 Samuel,A.L. 2 227539 I agree Sketch ice cream is fantastic,but it costs $8 a pint! Aieeeee! Sat May 13 02:03:48 -0700 2006 227526 0 oakjoan 1 227534 I think it depends on your taste and how you're going to eat it (alone or as an accompaniment to something else). I've found that some premium vanilla ice creams have a harsh edge to them from too much (or the wrong kind) of vanilla. I think really vanilla-y vanilla is better eaten in isolation -- for scooping to put on fruit crisp or with cake, I like something where the vanilla doesn't overwhelm the cream. For packaged ice cream I like Double Rainbow. Don't know if you can get it at Berkeley Bowl, but you can get it at Trader Joe's. Sat May 13 01:11:32 -0700 2006 227522 0 Ruth Lafler 2 227565 Double Rainbow's the best vanilla American-type commercial ice cream I know. Sat May 13 13:46:15 -0700 2006 227534 0 Robert Lauriston 3 227588 I really like Double Rainbow but wouldn't call it American-type. To me, it's more gelato-like than American-type. Sat May 13 17:19:19 -0700 2006 227565 0 Mick Ruthven 4 227607 It's not pumped full of air like the big supermarket brands but it's not as dense or sticky as gelato. Sat May 13 21:24:03 -0700 2006 227588 0 Robert Lauriston 1 227540 I had a really good packaged vanilla ice cream that I originally got at Pasta Shop. It's made in Santa Barbara, I think. And I also think you can get it at Berkeley Bowl. A guy at the cheese counter told me about it, telling me to put the Ciao Bella vaniglia back and get this stuff. I bet if you called them, they'd know the name. It's probably a buck cheaper (at least) at BB than at Pasta Shop Sat May 13 02:07:13 -0700 2006 227522 0 oakjoan 2 227541 Maybe McConnell's? If so, here's a discount coupon. Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/45624#225895 Image: http://www.mcconnells.com/images/coupon.gif Sat May 13 02:29:47 -0700 2006 227540 0 Melanie Wong 1 227552 Tell me, what are your criteria? Do you feel better if you see little vanilla seeds? What kind of sugar? A slightly maply taste, a hint of cognac or ???? Mexican vanilla? Will your lips feel like you've used gloss? Will it melt and be rapidly absorbed or sorta hang-out in your mouth like a flan or creme brulee? Sat May 13 11:49:17 -0700 2006 227522 0 joltgrrl 2 227556 I have to say, I never knew there were that many variables in choosing an ice cream. I'm not sure I have answers to those questions; mainly, I want good ice cream with a clean, homemade taste, made with just sugar, cream, vanilla, etc. None of that xantham-gum and preservative-filled Ben & Jerry's style stuff. Sat May 13 12:44:26 -0700 2006 227552 0 OakTownHound 3 227563 That's what I thought you meant by "no frills." If you want a clean, homemade taste with no additives you should try Sketch. Sat May 13 13:38:41 -0700 2006 227556 0 Morton the Mousse 3 227566 I don't think Double Rainbow uses any of that crap. The only place that makes ice cream that's really like homemade in terms of texture is Sketch. Sat May 13 13:52:12 -0700 2006 227556 0 Robert Lauriston 1 227557 I prefer to think my ice cream's "fresh." I used to live by Fenton's and spent a year or more eating ice cream for breakfast. So, as to buying at Berkeley Bowl.... I'll look today. Sat May 13 12:51:04 -0700 2006 227522 0 joltgrrl 2 227567 Fenton's ice cream's not bad, but the other incredietns in the sundaes are mediocre, and some of the other food's downright bad. Sat May 13 13:54:09 -0700 2006 227557 0 Robert Lauriston 3 227595 I agree, today's Fenton's is OK, but my palate grew up on the original Loard's across from Bret Harte Jr High. Their Burgundy Cherry was great fun. I miss McCallum's, tam-o-shanters and all (the NIGHTMARE!) Sat May 13 18:57:03 -0700 2006 227567 0 joltgrrl 1 227582 Today at the berkeley Farmer's market there was an organic natural madagascar vanilla from San Rafael. I think that the company is called Three Twins. YUM! Sat May 13 16:03:34 -0700 2006 227522 0 Hop 2 227587 I wasn't very impressed with that. Sat May 13 17:11:04 -0700 2006 227582 0 Robert Lauriston