Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Guinea Pigs

When pal Sari calls, we always know whatever she proposes will be fun. This time, she asked us to be guinea pigs for her budding cooking talents. We said an enthusiastic "YES" and offered to bring dessert.

My Beloved had heard about an ice cream store that is getting rave reviews both in the newspaper and from friends, so we ankled on over there to see what they might have.

Ici is a tiny storefront in the Elmwood district of Berkeley on College Avenue. The line extending out the door and 15 feet down the sidewalk was testament to the excellence and trendiness within. When we got to the counter, we each ordered a cone to go as well as this dessert, crunchy peanut and chocolate bombe, to take to Sari for dessert. The coffee cone (they make their own cones daily and each one has a bite of chocolate in the bottom to plug the hole and provide a last-minute pleasure) has a hint of chili heat. My cone was liberally laced with chewy chunks of gingersnap cookies in a rich vanilla ice cream.

There were other unusual flavors of ice cream and sorbet - rose, lemon, Concord grape, pistachio - and different combinations, too. Many are made only seasonally using ingredients of that time of year but they always have chocolate and vanilla. Not to mention the handmade candies, mint marshmallows, pecan cinnamon brittle, etc.

The bombe was "da bomb," a big hit with the hostess after we enjoyed her lamb roast stuffed with goat cheese, basil and sun-dried tomatoes. Under the delicate chocolate tracery on the outside of the vanilla dome, we found peanut butter ice cream, small crispy bits of peanut brittle (?) and a thick chocolate brownie bottom. We waddled back to our car, replete with good food and a lovely dessert, waving goodbye and offering to be Sari's guinea pigs at any time in the future.

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6 Comments:

Blogger Rolfe Bautista said...

This looks heavenly. I would love to try it out and my mouth waters just thinking about it :D

Tuesday, October 13, 2009  
Blogger jumelager said...

That looks wonderful...and the lamb roast sounds incredible. Is there anyway to get that recipe?

Tuesday, October 13, 2009  
Blogger Nancy Ewart said...

I am glad that I live a bridge and a couple of cities away from that sort of temptation. Da Bomb is right! It's filled with all the kinds of tastes that I love.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009  
Blogger Greg said...

Definitely the "da bomb". My family would be all over that magnificent creation.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009  
Blogger cookiecrumb said...

Your picture is a treat, with the light reflections. I'll pass on the dessert, though. (You know me...)

Tuesday, October 13, 2009  
Blogger Zoomie said...

Rolfe, they do a good job over at Ici!

Jumelager, Sari said she'd email me the recipe and I'll add it to this post when it arrives and I'm back from vacay. Stand by!

Nancy, I'll remember that and perhaps next time you come for lunch, we can have one of the individual size they make.

Greg, you, too, can be a hero in your family - just head over to Berzerkeley and get one for your next birthday/anniversary/special occasion.

Cookiecrumb, cell phone picture - I forgot my camera! I thought it made an interesting halo with all the reflections. And, I'd know better than to serve this to you - but Cranky might like it!

Thursday, October 15, 2009  

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