157. Bay Area - A Sunny Day in SF Calls for Bi-Rite Ice Cream at Dolores Park (SF: Mission)

On the rare occasion that San Francisco is presented with a warm, sunny day, people scramble outdoors for a little warmth, a little ice cream from Bi-Rite Creamery, and a little tan at Dolores Park.  That is exactly what Diana and I, and what seemed like the rest of San Francisco, did that day.

We stood in line for ice cream and peered through Namu Gaji's windows.  Exciting.

We secured our ice cream for the park.  I started on my coffee toffee long before we left the store.

I sat and people watched while Diana attempted to finish her ice cream before it completely melted... then I watched Diana lose her ice cream to the sun and the wind.  The elements of nature are not her friend.  There is no image of Diana here because the picture is erotic and/or inappropriate depending on which end of the spectrum your perspective on ice cream eating lies.  For our close friends, I have video... heh, heh, heh...

Until the next time the sun shines in San Francisco, let's all get S.O.F.A.T.

Bi-Rite Creamery
3692 18th Street
Mission District
San Francisco, CA 94110

ML - 20130901

149. Bay Area - Ici Ice Cream: The Best Ice Cream in East Bay (Berkeley: Elmwood)

The first time I set foot in the Ici Ice Cream shop was way back during my undergrad years.  My friends who attended Cal Berkeley introduced me to this quaint little shop on College Avenue within walking distance of campus.  Back then I did not know that Earl Grey could be an ice cream flavor, that Baked Alaska was a dessert, or that orange peels could be candied and eaten.  Oh, how Ici Ice Cream changed things for me.

I have that same memory of Ici's ice cream from the first time I visited... only this time I anticipated the creative flavor combinations.  The offerings that day included a maple-candied bacon, a spicy Mexican chocolate-salted almond, a malted banana, and a lemon-mint sherbert.  After trying each flavor out, I ultimately decided on the caramel-cashew... in a hand rolled cone and topped off with crunchy cocoa nibs.  Heavenly.

What I like about the ice cream here is that it is not overly sweetened, which means I could eat the ice cream all day, everyday for a year, without getting a toothache.  What I do not like about the ice cream here is that the scoop is so petite for the price that I could not afford to eat it all day... and definitely not everyday for a year.  I can, however, afford that Baked Alaska bombe.  It looks so good... I want it so bad.  I am coming for it next time.  Kat, you in?

Until then, let's all get S.O.F.A.T.

Ici Ice Cream
2948 College Ave.
Elmwood
Berkeley, CA 94705

ML - 20131008