Scoops Ice Cream

712 N Heliotrope Dr
Los Angeles, CA 90029
(323) 906-264
Mon-Sat. 12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

I tend to take my ice cream parlors very seriously. I know it's not fair, but everyone I go to must be compared to my two favorites, Mitchell's in San Francisco and Fenton's in Berkeley. I have to state my bias because I realize that there is no comparison and so those particular ice cream parlors that come after will always be doomed to failure.

I am happy to report that Scoops, in comparison, is not a failure. It's still not in the same league with Mitchell's and Fenton's, but it ain't bad either.

Last month I made the mistake of finding a recipe for Browned Butter and bacon ice cream from my friend Oakley's blog. I'm no cook, so there was only the slight consideration that I might make it myself, but that's the point of the concept of supply and demand- I have a craving, someone else can fulfill it, I hand them money, and we both are happy. So I have been craving browned butter ice cream and bacon ice cream and have not found anything to whet that appetite. Bi-rite Creamery in San Francisco was a nice try, but no dice because their ice cream left a buttery grease film in my mouth. Ever since then I've returned to L.A. and realized that there are ice cream parlors here too.

So that's where Scoops comes along. Turns out this boutique parlor is almost around the corner from where I work on the Paramount Lot. (Okay, it's actually a mile and a half away, but in L.A. that's counts as "around the block"). After work I found the parlor and for some reason the guys were hogging the tables outside while the ladies were sitting inside. What's with the segregation?

I went to the ice cream case and lo and behold, there was no browned butter and bacon. Dang it! Note to self: call ahead of time and ask about it. Maybe asking about it will give them a hint to have it on stock. However they did have two flavors that sounded intriguing- Butterscotch Mocha and Brown Bread.

The Butterscotch Mocha was delicious and was a rich, almost gelato in texture chocolate ice cream that for some reason didn't taste like either butterscotch or mocha. It wasn't completely chocolate and I think that the butterscotch added a silky texture to the scoop, but the flavor wasn't there. In spite of that, it was tasty.

Next I had the Brown Bread. I was expecting the ice cream to have chunks of bread, like the crust off of a loaf of Wonder Bread or maybe bits of rye. Instead, the ice cream was basically vanilla with Grape Nuts blended in. That too was delicious. Although it wasn't rich and suffered from the same ice crystals that accompany ice cream that doesn't have enough egg yolk in it for consistency, I loved the simple flavor and even more than that, the mouthfeel of ice cream with Grape Nuts.

If you want to try this one then please remember this tip: know that it is Grape Nuts. When I finished the Mocha scoop and finally got to the Brown Bread scoop, I was a little taken aback. "What is that in my mouth? Is it raspberry seed? Toasted nut? Roach carapace? Baby Tooth?" Once I recognized the flavor of Grape Nuts, I was finally able to relax and enjoy my cone. Until that moment of recognition, there was a ton of stress.

The place isn't exactly kick back, but then again, have you ever noticed that boutique ice cream stores always offer uncomfortable seating. They want you to get your ice cream then get out. Ya know, Scoops, if you made the place comfy, people like me might stay for a sundae. But I get it, real estate ain't cheap so the only way you can get volume is by having high turn-around. But then again places like Farrell's and Fenton's gets high volume business because they know that people want to hang out and enjoy the atmosphere. Oh well. Such is life in LA, where they know everyone has the mentality of singleton gypsies.

The parking was easy as I got there in the evening, which is late enough to not be competing with the night school students at the adjacent LA City College and early enough before closing so as not to worry about finding the place locked up. Bring your cash too, as they don't accept credit cards.

Little Doms

2128 Hillhurst Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027
T: 323-661-0055
F: 323-661-0066
www.littledoms.com

Hours:
Breakfast, Lunch all day, 8am - 3pm
Sunday-Thursday 6pm - 11pm
Friday and Saturday 6pm - 12am

I'm a total sucker for going to restaurants that show up on the Travel Channel and The Food Network. So when I saw this place on the Food Network's "The Best Food I Ever Ate" and realized it was in my neck of the woods, I knew that it was only a matter of time. I love breakfast and I love pizza, and I didn't know what "speck" was so last Sunday I called in my order and then headed over for pickup.

I got to the restaurant and it was almost empty. That worried me because come on, it was a Sunday morning. The restaurant is a cute little place with a little bar and booth area and an upper level with more seating. I instantly fell in love. At that point it wasn't a matter if I was going to stay to have breakfast (even though it meant being late for work), but whether I was going to sit in a booth or outside on the curb on a beautiful sunny day. I picked inside and as soon as I sat down they put my breakfast pizza in front of me. Note to self: from now on call your order in for takeout, then quickly change your mind- that way your food is ready when you arrive.



Sad to say, I was a little disappointed at the pizza. Apparently "speck" is just pancetta. It's served on a crispy flatbread with the lightest layer of pizza sauce that I'm tempted to say it only counts as a hint of tomato sauce. Of course there's the requisite mozzarella cheese which was nothing special and it's topped with your choice of one egg or two. They bring it out to you on a wooden cutting board with a cut out paper grocery bag as the liner. I liked this rustic way of serving the food, but I didn't like that I wasn't given a plate. This would have been messy had I not been eating alone.

I was also disappointed at the service. The staff was really nice and laid back, but there were little slip ups. My knife looked like it hadn't been washed, so I avoided using it altogether. The coffee was served in a little 3 cup teapot, which was nice so I could give myself refills a la IHOP, but when I poured out the coffee, a bell pepper seed dropped into my cup. Whoa! Plus there was a smear of red pizza sauce on the saucer, so strike three. Then to top it all off, the busboy accidentally poured coffee on my booth seat and didn't say anything. Had I not seen the coffee sitting there after 10 minutes, I would have walked out with coffee butt.

Surprisingly, in spite of the carelessness of service, I still plan to return. I'm going back not just to try the wild boar bacon (which in retrospect I should have ordered on my pizza instead of the speck) but I just love the restaurant. It's just sedate and has that old timey restaurant feel, much like I imagine Musso and Frank's would have been like in its day. It has gorgeous white, red, and brown tones, big picture windows so you can get a lot of sun, and is just a nice place for brunch. Even though I tend to be a stickler about good service and hygienic environments, atmosphere trumps that in my book. How do I know I liked the place in spite of the mildly annoying breach in service? I tipped them well. That's how I know I'll return anywhere- when I feel I have to lay the groundwork for them not to spit into my next meal.

Although it was lovely, it wasn't great. For someone to think that this was the best pizza they'd ever had, that tells me that they haven't had enough pizza. For a breakfast pizza that will knock your socks off, try the one at Pizzetta 211 in San Francisco. The place is all the way out in the Richmond, which to me counts as being in another country, but it's worth getting a passport if that's the case. I'll be home in a San Francisco in day or two and that place is definitely on the list.