homemade ice cream Bmore
I realize its the middle of winter, but I was wondering if anyone knew of a really good non-chain ice cream place in Baltimore?? I;m thinking of a Dumsters in Ocean City, type of place. Most places I have visited have great family run type places to get shakes and banana splits ect and have been around for 40+ years...have snowballs taken over ice cream here?
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re: kelmusica
No, but there was an older couple that ran it with their son (?). Not positive of the relationships there. All of a sudden they were replaced by an Asian couple.
The good news is that the new people are much friendlier. The bad is that they often seem overwhelmed. The place was never all that fast, but it's gone to pre-global warming glacial. It's not the place to stop when you're in a hurry.
On balance I'm more likely to stop in there now though, because the new people are just so sweet. None of the food has changed as far as i can see.
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locustpointgirl
Jan 3, 2008 05:04 PM
In my opinion the best ice cream in Baltimore is Sylvan Beach.
I will completely and totally own up to being a snob about ice cream because I care a lot (too much?) about this topic. I grew up in Cincinnati, home of the incredible Graeters ice cream. My grandmother grew up clearing tables at the Hyde Park parlor for 10 cent tips. Before moving to Baltimore, I lived in Columbus for the past 10 years, home to the even better Jeni's Ice Cream. But maybe the biggest reason I'm so passionate about ice cream is that I make my own.
That being said, I heard a lot about Moxley's when I moved here and I was eager to check them out, but in my opinion it's just too heavy handed and obvious with its flavors and texture. That might sound like a strange way to put it and I'm sure some people (and kids) like it very much. I just wouldn't consider it very inspired.
Sylvan Beach manages to be delicate and very flavor-intense. I've also never seen artificial coloring at Sylvan Beach which is a dead giveaway of the level of quality you can expect from an ice cream.Also, unfortunately I think Beach Bums in Federal Hill closed sometime before last winter. I had been advised to check it out and when I visited, the deli that occupies the space now said they served Hershey's ice cream.
Pitango Gelato in Fells is very good, but it's not ice cream. (At least not to me.)
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re: locustpointgirl
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re: smt
locustpointgirl
Jan 6, 2008 10:29 AM
I grew up in Cincinnati and its a beautiful city, but I haven't lived there since I graduated from high school. We were there for a few days visiting my family over Christmas though.
Graeters Ice Cream is a French Pot ice cream, so yes they have a wonderful custard base. It's very thick. Their Black Raspberry Chip is one of the best flavors of any ice cream. (Huge dark chocolate chunks — chips really aren't an accurate way to describe it.)
And I do think UDF has it's place. They have a very comforting (if a little too green) mint chocolate chip. The chips in that are so fine and irregular, they're almost flakes.
I miss my Cincinnati ice cream, but what I really miss are Skyline Chili, LaRosa's pizza and Montgomery Ribs. I have a stockpile in my basement of cans of skyline and Montgomery Inn BBQ sauce. Seriously, Like and entire shelf.
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re: locustpointgirl
Ah, locustpointgirl, you bring back the Cincinnati memories! I lived there for only two years but how I still miss chili cheese sandwiches. What I wouldn't give for a Skyline or a Gold Star chili around here! But as far as ice cream - Graeter's was amazing, but IMO Aglemesis Bros. was even better. (Graeter's had the astounding chocolate "chips" but Aglemesis had an even deeper richness of flavor.) I also had the good fortune to sample Jeni's in Columbus and it is perhaps the best of the entire lot.
FWIW, all three places do mail order (yes, I've ordered from all three!)
In B'more, I have had Moxley's, Beach Bums (the Towson location) and Sylvan Beach, and I have to say that none are quite as good as the Ohio ice cream places - not only in terms of depth of flavor, but also the texture. That said, I would consider all three to be the best that B'more has to offer (at least that I've tried). ;)
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re: MDS
We lived near Aglemesis in Oakley Square and really loved the ice cream as well as the "old school" fountain atmosphere.
Not sure if anyone has mentioned these Baltimore ice creams but Woodberry Kitchen has great ice cream and Springfield Farm in Sparks, MD. sells ice cream, but I do not know where it is from.
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re: smt
tennisgal1206
Jan 6, 2008 04:10 PM
Woodberry Kitchen's ice cream is unbelieveably good. I think I read someplace that it is homemade.
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re: tennisgal1206
Yes. It is made at the restaurant.
The only time we did not like the ice cream at WK was when they combined the ice cream onto a sheet of chocolate and then mixed it all together somehow. My experience was that is was too icy; I imagine from some melting and refreezing during and after the preparation.
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re: smt
Springfield Farms sells ice cream from Trickling Springs dairy, which is just across the line in PA. It's very good and obviously made very fresh, but I'm not sure it's ice cream-snob worthy. Their milk is definitely milk-snob worthy however. I've done blind taste tests, it's amazingly better than any other milk around.
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re: pigtowner
locustpointgirl
Jan 7, 2008 02:01 PM
I use Trickling Springs milk and cream in the ice cream I make and it is incredibly awesome. Their butter is great too.
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re: MDS
locustpointgirl
Jan 6, 2008 02:27 PM
Aglemesis Brothers is one of my favorite spots. Neither the atmosphere of the old-timey ice cream store, nor their homemade chocolate bittersweet sauce can be beat. I've toyed (dreamed) with the idea of having my own ice cream store in B'more and the Aglemesis parlor is certainly rooted deep in my subconscious as the kind of place I would want. That being said, I don't think I'm ready for that step quite yet.
That and South Baltimore seems pretty attached to the shaved ice....
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re: locustpointgirl
UNless things have changed drastically over the last 20 years......I would not consider Baltimore to be an ice cream "mecca" like either Cincinatti or Boston. I was very involved in the "home made" ice cream scene in Baltimore in the late 70's and 80's.
The reason really good ice cream stores have not been financially successful is because Baltimore is basically a "weekend: town...especially during non-summer months. Its very hard for an ice cream business to survive from Halloween till mid April selling $100 worth of product per day. For some reason......people in New England value ice cream more and will eat it in any type of weather.
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rpb
Jan 1, 2008 01:56 PM
North Pole Ice Cream Co. on Eastern Ave. in Highlandtown serves Moxley's ice cream and has that old time ice cream counter feel to it. I always indulge in a great banana split when I'm there.
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re: jes
I second the Daily Scoop! If you are in Anne Arundel County, this place it great. Locally run by a husband and wife, supports the local town etc. and they make pretty good homemade ice cream. The favorites in our house are the Toasted Coconut, the Rum Raisin and the White Blizzard. Very tasty!
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tennisgal1206
Dec 30, 2007 05:41 PM
Try Moxley's in Towson and Sylvan Beach ice cream (locations in Mt Vernon & Mt Washington).
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re: tennisgal1206
crowsonguy
Dec 31, 2007 09:49 PM
I second both of these, but only the Mt Vernon Sylvan Beach is open in the winter (it's on Preston St near the Theatre Project)
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re: tennisgal1206
Sylvan Beach's Mt. Vernon location is still undergoing renovations, they claim to be opening in the fall. The Mt. Washington shop is open through the winter on the weekends only. The hours sign says Sat and Sun 1-5. They may only be selling packed ice cream (pints and quarts, etc.) for the winter, but don't quote me. It is by far the best homemade ice cream in Baltimore and worth checking out. Hope this helps.
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