Magpies Ice Cream Pie: A Welcome Birthday Treat

My apologies to cake, but I think birthdays have a new winner: The softserve ice cream cakes at Magpies. We managed to get 13 slices out of this one, for Maria's birthday. For $35, it's the Fried Softserve Pie - Corn Almond Softserve layered with vegan fudge, honeycomb, topped with non-dairy whipped cream and fried candied cornflake.

Delicious. And somewhat decadent. But hey, worth the quarantine calories. As other birthdays come up, I'm excited to try other flavors, such as the ube. Stay tuned!

Rate-A-Restaurant #374: Bengees (Pasadena)

Restaurant: Bengees Ice Cream Crafters

Location: 901 E Del Mar Blvd (Pasadena)



Type of restaurant: Dessert (Ice Cream)



We stipulated: Maria and I had just finished watching a movie in Pasadena, and had a bit of time to spare before we had to pick up the boys. The answer? Ice cream. I searched for a spot in Pasadena, and Bengees looked promising.



They stipulated: "Treat yo' self." Bengees offers a rotating mix of flavors, including several vegan choices. Also cronut ice cream sandwiches and a toasted marshmallow topping option



What we ordered: Mike: Scoop of churro ice cream, $3.50; Maria: English toffee ice cream, $3.50


High point:  Nice choice of flavors, and free samples.

Low point:  The flavors were ultimately just OK, but not exceptional.

Overall impression: Go for the signature items -- the cronut ice cream sandwich or the toasted marshmallow topping. Otherwise, it's just another ice cream shop.

Will we return: Not sure. There are many ice cream joints popping up all the time, and not sure Bengees made enough of an impression to be back.

Rate-A-Restaurant #373: Magpies Softserve (Silver Lake)

Restaurant: Magpies Softserve

Location: 2660 Griffith Park Boulevard (Silver Lake)



Type of restaurant: Dessert (Ice Cream)



We stipulated: I love soft serve more than anything. I still dream almost daily of the "Salty Bea Arthur," as served at New York's Big Gay Ice Cream shop (which sadly still hasn't opened a Los Angeles outpost, despite promising so). But I also love adventurous flavors, which is why Scoops is my fave ice cream scoop in LA. Magpies promised to marry the two, and I was in.



They stipulated: "Magpies Softserve is a scratch recipe soft serve dessert shop. We make our soft serve mix and all toppings in house. We wanted to expand the flavors of typical soft serve ice cream from the traditional vanilla and chocolate by creating flavors of soft serve that bring us back to our childhood, flavors that inspired us to become chefs. From a Horchata (non dairy), to a Cortadito, a sweetened Cuban espresso to Yuzu Honey, a traditional Korean tea that is unique to the American palate. We had a lot of fun creating flavors that are authentic to us."



What we ordered: Mike: Toasted marshmallow and Corn Almond; Maria: Thai Tea and Sweet Cream; Evan: Toasted marshmallow with caramel and cookie crumble; Nathan: Toasted marshmallow. All junior size at $3.95; the two toppings were 95 cents more.


High point:  Loved the corn almond, which reminded me of the "cereal milk" flavor found at New York's Milk Bar. Plus: The fact that you could split your order and get *two* flavors was well appreciated!

Low point:  It's a small store, so there aren't many places to sit and enjoy your treat. (But that's a common refrain at spots like Scoops too.)



Overall impression: The junior size is more than enough; it's the perfect amount of ice cream. Also loved the free samples as we tested out what we wanted. And the diversity of flavor choices means there's something for everyone.



Will we return: Oh yes. Magpies rotates its flavors, which means there will be always new flavors to try. Not good for my diet, but fantastic news for my tastebuds.

Rate-A-Restaurant #350: Frango Cafe (Chicago)

Restaurant: Frango Cafe

Location: 111 N State Street (Chicago)



Type of restaurant: Sandwiches/Ice Cream



We stipulated: A friend suggested that during our time in Chicago we visit the Frango Cafe at the State Street Macy's (R.I.P. Marshall Fields) to get a taste of the Frango mint ice cream.

They stipulated: This is one of the few, if any, retailers that sell Frango ice cream. Per Metromix: "Chicago shopping devotees who remember Marshall Field's Crystal Palace gleefully recall an old-fashioned ice-cream parlor and soda fountain that provided frosty shopping respite. The Crystal Palace may be history, but its heart is alive in the Frango Cafe, a restaurant and ice-cream counter that shares the seventh floor at Macy's with the Seven on State food court and the Walnut Room. The enclosed seating area allows a bit more room to spread out than the food court. The shakes and sundaes are still on the menu, along with a selection of salads and sandwiches."



What we ordered: Ice cream cones, of course! (Small $1.95, Large $2.95).



High point:  When they ran out of ice cream before my sister could get a cone, they offered her a slice of Frango pie ($5.95 value) for free.

Low point:  Limited hours. We had visited Macy's a few days earlier to try the Frango ice cream, but we were there too late in the afternoon.

Overall impression: Still not ready to forgive Macy's for eliminating iconic brands like Marshall Field's. But the Frango mint ice cream helps. Now, if they would only make it available in more spots!

Will we return: Absolutely.

Rate-A-Restaurant #341: Carmela Ice Cream Co. (Pasadena)

Restaurant: Carmela Ice Cream Co.



Location: 2495 E Washington Blvd (Pasadena)

Type of restaurant: Ice Cream



We stipulated: After hiking at nearby Eaton Canyon, we wanted a cool treat to celebrate Maria's birthday. We just happened to spy Carmela on the way to our hike, and so it beat out our other choice, a quick drive to Fosselman's.



They stipulated: "We make artisan ice cream and sorbet, using fresh, seasonal and organic ingredients sourced from local farmers' markets. Established in 2007."



What we ordered: Mike: 2 scoops-- Salted Caramel and Lavender Honey ($5.95). Maria: Cone-- Lime Mint Sorbet ($5.75). Blogger Kids: Cone-- Salted Caramel ($5.75) and Cone-- Chocolate Sorbet ($5.75).



High point:  Maria's lime mint sorbet was extra refreshing after that hike. The salted caramel is always a hit.



Low point:  You want your ice cream in a cone? It's $1 more, no matter what.



Overall impression: It felt a little bit like we were cheating on our beloved Scoops -- but hey, our local Scoops in Highland Park is closed on Sundays. Carmela's flavors aren't nearly as adventurous/wacky as Scoops, but that's OK. The ingredients are fresh and the flavors are spot-on. It may be a little bit on the pricey side, but worth the occasional splurge.



Will we return: Yes, especially if we were nearby the store.

Rate-A-Restaurant #330: Sweet Rose Creamery (Ice Cream)

Restaurant: Sweet Rose Creamery

Location: 7565 Beverly Boulevard (3rd/Beverly/Fairfax)

Type of restaurant: Ice cream



We stipulated: After an afternoon in Beverly Hills, we were looking for a treat on the drive home. We could have gone to Scoops, but we always go to Scoops. We wanted to try something different and Sweet Rose Creamery's artisan ice cream has been long on our "to eat" list.

They stipulated: "At Sweet Rose Creamery we make small batches of homemade ice cream using only the best ingredients. We use organic milk and cream from Clover Organic Farms and eggs from Chino Valley Ranchers. Both suppliers are antibiotic and hormone free! We also make every effort to purchase our produce from farmers who use organic and sustainable agricultural practices, and support our local farmers by purchasing our produce at the Santa Monica Farmers Market (You’ll see us there every Wednesday!). Sweet Rose Creamery pasteurizes on site and makes all ice cream, sorbets, and dairy free ice creams on premises from scratch every day. We never use any stabilizers in our ice cream bases, and we never use pre-mix bases for any of our products. We also make our own hand-made cones, frozen novelties, cakes, pies, and toppings in house from scratch (except for sodas, sprinkles & coco nibs)."



What we ordered: Maria and I shared a banana split with Caffe Luxxe Coffee ice cream and Salted Caramel ice cream ($7.50); Blogger Kid 2.0 tried a kids scoop of mint chip ($3).



High point:  The flavors are fresh and powerful. I've never had a coffee ice cream as strong as the Caffe Luxxe flavor

Low point:  I wish I knew they were going to sprinkle nuts on our banana split. I've never been a fan of nuts on ice cream.



Overall impression: Maria and I decided to share the banana split since, at $7.50, that was the cheaper route than getting separate scoops. $4 for a scoop of ice cream is still a little crazy to me, especially when you get two scoops for $3 at Scoops. But the ice cream was tasty, and the flavors adventurous. Maria recently tried Salt & Straw, which she complained was waaay too overpriced. Sweet Rose is a nice middle ground.



Will we return: I'm not sure we would go out of our way, but if we were in Mid City looking for a treat, we'd stop by again.

Rate-A-Restaurant #322: Blockheads Shavery (Alhambra)

Restaurant: Blockheads Shavery

Location: 12 W. Main Street (Alhambra)

Type of restaurant: Dessert

We stipulated: After a hot afternoon walking around the Citadel outlet mall, I couldn't shake the idea of indluging in a cool treat. Maria recommended Blockheads Shavery in nearby Alhambra.



They stipulated: "Blockheads Shavery combines the fine texture of Hawaiian shave ice with the creamy goodness of ice cream to create a unique treat we're proud to call Snow Cream. Made in-store by our certified Snow Cream gurus, we blend the freshest ingredients and shave each block only when it reaches the optimal temperature, ensuring every serving meets the highest of standards."



What we ordered: Black sesame snow cream with mochi and coconut puree drizzle; original flavor with boba and strawberry drizzle. (Both were $3.95 plus 60 cents for the topping)



High point:  It's a unique texture -- not quite shave ice, not quite ice cream. The regular size is also big enough to share with a friend.



Overall impression: I liked the black sesame, but yet it could use a bit more flavor. The drizzle adds that, but not enough. Still, it's a unique dessert in a sea of likeminded yogurt, ice cream and shave ice shops, and for that I was happy to check it out.



Will we return: Sure, I've been told the rice cake is a must, and something we'll have to try with our next Blockheads.

The Latest Ice Cream Scoop From Scoops

The most interesting, unique and tasty ice cream in the world comes from Tai Kim's Scoops. We're lucky enough to live close to his Scoops on York location in Highland Park. Remember, the best part: Generous-sized scoops. Every "scoop" at Scoops is actually two scoops -- I've never quite understood the math, but I'll never complain.

Here's the selection from our most recent visit, starting with maple molasses Oreo and caramel Oreo (above).



Salty chocolate



Vanilla green tea and sour honey toffee