While summer may be officially upon us, cold treats and long lines for said frosty indulgences have been happening in Portland long before the temperature got upwards of 80 degrees. As my parents said on they’re visit here last month, “what is it with this town and lines?!” Well, I guess, it’s that when something comes along so decadent and rich that has salted caramel ribbons people take notice. Salt & Staw‘s line reaches to the street even on rainy days, and now that the suns out we can assume it’s about to reach new highs.
My one roommate absolutely swears by the Sea Salt Ice Cream with Carmel Ribbons while the other lives for the Cinnamon Snicker Doodle, which he tells me has huge chucks of snicker doodle cookie in the ice cream. They have much more creative flavors like Pear with Blue Cheese, which I’ve been told to try with caramel sauce drizzled on top for a sweet and salty experience not to be missed.
Like I said early, my parents don’t like to wait, they took one look at the Salt & Straw line, and we kept driving, we ended up on N Williams to try What’s The Scoop the newest of the ice cream shops in town. What sets this place apart from the others is the process, they use liquid nitrogen to make the ice cream giving it, as my mom puts it, and “gelatto-esque texture with an ice cream taste.” My favorite flavor was signature Burnt Sugar, but next time I’ll be looking at the boozey section like the Kahlua Espresso or the Marple Jack Bacon Brittle! This place is sure to get as crowded as Salt & Straw soon but will avoid the wrap around lines with the genius DMV-style take a number and hang out system.
Jodie Kurstin Ostrovsky at What’s the Scoop?
And one cannot bring up Portland ice cream without hitting Ruby Jewel with some big ups. This place holds a special place in my boyfriends heart for their Caramel with Salted Dark Chocolate Ice Cream. With an outpost on N Mississippi one of the cutest districts in town, and lines that range from manageable to busy but doable this place is a great stop off. Run by two sisters who are about the friendliest folks ever they made a name for themselves starting in 2004 by selling they’re handcrafted, locally sourced ice cream sandwiches at Portland farmers Markets in the summer. Now you can find these ice cream sandwiches sold throughout the US and beyond, check out the website for an interactive map to find a location nearest you!
The famous Ruby Jewel Ice Cream Sandwich
Photo credit: http://www.portlandmonthlymag.com/ Salt & Straw’s NW 23rd location.