Eis Cream
Samples – ube, macapuno, peach cobbler, burgundy cherry, pralines and caramel, coffee and toffee
Warm Double Chocolate Brownie
Ube on Chocolate Chip and Macadamia Nut Sandwich
Owned and operated by Alexis Gonzaga, a charming young lady who was (wo)manning the small shop solo when I arrived shortly after the 2:00pm opening on Saturday, Eis Cream is not exactly the artisan experience some might expect, but with cutesy décor including Hello Kitty merchandise paired with good sourcing and a few housemade items the overall effect is quite nice. Small in size but sizable in selection, with ice creams imported from Treat in No.Cal matched to locally baked goods from Al’s, Valerio’s, and more it was with pleasant conversation about flavor profiles and why specific vendors were chosen that I chatted with Ms. Gonzaga during the course of my visit and sampling several ice creams with results ranging from bold (burgundy cherry, ube) to overly icy and sweet (peach cobbler, macapuno) I eventually opted to invest in the ube alongside the only three items made in house – a duo of cookies and a chocolate brownie, each served hot from the tray. Beginning first with the ube, apparently oft mistaken for taro by guests, I was immediately taken by the starchy potato textures admixing with cream plus subtle sweetness and pairing this with cookies and crushed peanuts the ice cream sandwich shined, my favorite bites coming at the end as the melted ice cream melded with butter and macadamia nuts with a decidedly tropical tilt. Moving onward to an option without ice cream, I could not help but order one of the restaurant’s brownies when I saw the pan procured fresh from the oven and with dark chips strewn amidst a semi-sweet base the result was decidedly decadent, the sort of thing that would have gone excellent with milk…or as the base of a sundae, the pralines and coffee a seemingly brilliant pairing though I imagine vanilla would work quite nicely as well.
THREE STARS: Not quite as impressive as Sweet Addictions if only due to overall lack of house made cookie options I can definitely see Eis Cream improving with time and customer feedback provided the small store can generate enough foot traffic and staying power given its tucked away location on the backside of a strip mall on South Eastern. Potentially a bit overpriced given the quality of the goods, the upcharge on Al’s already sub-par Kronuts particularly perplexing, it is a good option for those in the neighborhood or those seeking something different – the hand packed half-gallons potentially a tempting proposition for those picking up a cake from nearby Freed’s.
RECOMMENDED: Ube Ice Cream, Brownie
AVOID: Fruit flavored ice creams, Al’s Kronuts
TIP: With hours recently changed and the store closed on Mondays customers would be well advised to call in advance to make sure the shop is open – the current listing indicating 2p-8p on Tuesday and Wednesday with Thursday hours 2p-10p. Yelp users be sure to check in for 10% off.
http://www.eiscreamcafe.com/
