There's a downtown mural that reads, "Take a risk. It's the most Edmonton thing you can do."
The message might raise a few eyebrows, but I can tell you that the women-led team behind Kind Ice Cream are some of the biggest risk-takers I know. I mean, who opens an ice cream shop in a city that only has two seasons -- winter and construction?
Not discounting Yelo'd (which serves Filipino-inspired soft serve), La Carraia (and other gelaterias), and the countless DQ's and Marble Slabs, Kind Ice Cream, to my knowledge, is the first artisanal hard ice cream shop to open its doors in Edmonton. They were quickly followed by Made by Marcus, a Calgary favourite, who opened shop on Whyte Ave, but Kind Ice Cream is Edmonton born and bred.
I learnt about Kind Ice Cream through their Kickstarter campaign, which was their final push for capital before opening their doors. I became a supporter and quickly became a fan. Their mission statement -- to be kind -- was something that really resonated with me. To be mindful of the environment, to be inclusive and welcoming of everyone, and to be supportive of other local suppliers and businesses. (Also, I was pretty stoked to eat some ice cream.) Safe to say, the campaign was successful, and they were able to raise over $20,000.
The shop, located in the heart of Ritchie, opened just this past June. It's a small space but absolutely adorable. As soon as you walk through the doors, the smell of freshly-baked waffle cones hits you square in the face. There isn't a ton of seating, but ice cream is totally transportable, and it's probably wise to burn off those calories with a walk around the neighbourhood anyway.
I'm wary of long lines, so it took me a good couple of months before I finally paid a visit. It was a crisp Sunday afternoon, which wasn't ideal ice cream weather, but perfect for us as there was only a few other people milling around.
All of their ice cream is chef-inspired and made in small batches right on the premises. They offer 11 "always" flavours which feature classics like vanilla bean, mint chip, and deep dark chocolate. They also have a rotating flavour menu, which is where they flex their culinary creativity and highlight seasonal ingredients. There are multiple vegan options (made with cashew milk, coconut milk, and cocoa butter), as well as gluten-free cones available, so that everyone can indulge.
Kid's scoops are $3.50, single scoops are $5.50, and double scoops are $7.50. They also sell take-home pints for $10. It might seem pricey but it's pretty consistent with other gourmet ice cream shops. Portions are also quite generous, so pro tip, ask for a single "split" scoop which lets you try two flavours!
For her scoops, LT chose real deal strawberry and cookies & sour cream. Inspired by my childhood order of maple pecan ice cream with rainbow sprinkles at Purdy's, I got the maple bourbon pecan and birthday cake. We both opted for waffle cones which are a $1 extra (but worth it!). They also supply cups or sugar cones free of charge.
The real deal strawberry was probably our favourite -- it was rich and sweet with real strawberry flavour, none of that artificial stuff. We were both on the fence with the cookies & sour cream. We both wanted to love it -- it sounded totally unique and interesting in theory -- but the sour undertone didn't help the lack of sweetness in the ice cream. With my maple bourbon pecan, they definitely weren't shy with the bourbon! It was also chock full of roasted pecans. The birthday cake was a bit tamer in flavour; it's a sweet vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles and classic cake batter folded in. As far as texture goes, the scoops have a nice creaminess, but for the flavours with mix-ins, I did notice the ice cream was a little more icy and stiff than preferred. I think it's something that will improve as they refine their production and grow through experience.
 |  |
Kind Ice Cream
9551 76 Ave NW
Edmonton, AB
(587) 759-0080
- CT
0 comments:
Post a Comment