Every once in a while we are lucky enough to treat ourselves with one of those rare gourmet experiences that make life worth living, i.e. the best ice cream in the world. And last week we did just that at our new favorite locally-owned ice cream shop, Smitten.
Smitten is part of a newly created pop-up foodie paradise in the heart of San Francisco’s Hayes Valley, and makes its home in a recycled shipping container. But before finding these new digs, Smitten started out as a roving ice cream vendor, mixing each individual order out of a small red wagon. That’s right. A small red wagon carried the patented mixer (named Kelvin) that uses liquid nitrogen to make the freshest most drool-inducing ice cream you can imagine. And even in its hip new home without wheels, Smitten still makes each cup fresh for you, going from raw ingredients to finished ice cream in about a minute. You can watch the fun video of their process here.
We indulged in horchata (a delectable cinnamon rice combo) ice cream with brown sugar caramel and classic vanilla ice cream with almond brittle – and we weren’t disappointed. The cool chalkboard menu shows off the flavors and toppings of the day, along with a clever breakdown of the ingredients for each flavor. Everyone in our group, children included, wolfed down their treats and begged for more. We all agreed it was the creamiest, best ice cream in town. No small feat in this food-obsessed city.
We feel a kindred connection with Smitten for reasons that go beyond their delicious frozen creations. It is a small, woman-owned business, with an emphasis on healthy, organic ingredients, and a commitment to environmental and social sustainability. Overall, it’s a terrific place, and you have no choice but to check it out if you are anywhere near Hayes Valley or anywhere near San Francisco for that matter. In fact, we recommend going out of your way to this destination. You won’t regret it.
Smitten? Yes. Yes, we are. It’s a tough job eating ice cream, but someone’s gotta do it.
