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.