The third batch of generously gifted Salt and Straw ice cream was a return to what Salt and Straw does best, making ice cream with the cream. And this month's batch was a "Best Of" box celebrating their epic flavors and crown jewels and something else sounding probably a bit much for an ice cream. There was still an obligatory monthly vegan batch which was pretty good -- and kuddos to them for offering options for those who are lactose- and dairy-intolerant -- but the middling Lemon Cheesecake Crumble aside they were all quality, 7's and above!
- Salted Caramel Cupcake
Me: The cupcake aspect of this remains a mystery to me, but the salted caramel aspect of it inexplicably led me to eat the entire thing the second go after poor, beautiful, darling Liz only had her taster teaser. (I regret nothing).
8.5/10
Liz: I barely got a bite of it, but I don't remember it being very compelling. I hardly remember it. The dough was good?
5/10
- Strawberry Tres Leches
Me: Good. Tasted kind of tres leches-y and kind of strawberry-y and all around was a solid ice cream. I wouldn't write home to the family about it, though.
7/10
Liz: I like the jelly, but I don't like the distribution- just a few big globs and many bites without any at all. The strawberry background is ok, but not exciting.
6/10
- Cinnatopia Cinnamon Bun
Me: Very tasty. Also a bit one note. Like one big cinnamon note. Except for the giant ribbon of molten cinnamon which had a very characteristic blast of cinnamon note. If the ribbon had been distributed a bit better it probably would have added something to the composition, but mostly it was a threatening gel of cinnamon flavor. Though I suppose if you want pure, uncut, super saturated sugar and cinnamon you could always go straight to the source.
7/10.
Liz: I'd say same as for Strawberry Tres Leches. I could've eaten a bowl of the swirl filling. Somehow an extra hard consistency, had to work to scoop it.
6/10.
- Bacon & Brown Ale
Me: Clearly the best, and not just because I like bacon. In fact, I am not 100% sure I could tell you there was bacon in what I was eating had it not been clearly written on the container. Just something savory and slightly smokey mixed in with the base that itself was also a hard to define delicious. Wouldn't say I was eating a brown ale, but if this is what all brown ale and bacon ice creams taste like I will happily sign up for their mailing list.
9/10
Liz: (Advisory: although Liz is a vegetarian she is also an extreme ice creamatarian and is known to recklessly tear into ice creams without caution or, apparently, bothering to read their labels.) Good flavor. (See! She won't even acknowledge her disturbing bacon eating behavior!)
3/10 (-5 for bacon)
- Lemon Cheesecake Crumble (vegan)
Me:
Probably the best vegan ice cream I've eaten so far which makes it a solidly middling regular ice cream. Given the coconut non-dairy base it would be better titled Lemon Coconut Cheesecake Crumble. The crumble component wasn't particularly memorable -- I'd actually forgotten about it till I looked at the label again -- but, sure, it was tasty too.
6/10
Liz: Tastes like coconut.
2/10
Update: to all parties concerned about the fate of our middling vegan ice creams it just so turns out we have some vegan friends that just can't get enough of this stuff. Truly the gift that keeps on giving!
