I love funky sweets, so I was super pumped to try Coolhaus Ice Cream from the moment I discovered them on social media. They started as an ice cream truck, but have gotten so popular that they now have scoop shops in LA and Dallas, as well as several mobile trucks in LA, NYC, and Dallas ! The idea is simple, but delicious: build your own ice cream sandwich from a scrumptious list of freshly baked cookies and housemade ice creams. Mix and match if you want, and there are even vegan and gluten free options available as well! Ice creams come in tasty and unique flavors like campfire s'mores, balsamic fig & mascarpone, and fried chicken & waffles, while the cookie options range from classic double chocolate to peanut butter Captain Crunch to confetti whoopie pie! The sandwiches are named after architects and architectural movements that inspired the design-minded owners (hence the "cool houses" created from ice cream & cookies). Plus, they're served in an edible wrapper, so don't be afraid to get messy as you dig in! I guess you could say I'm a big fan, as I've visited the truck in both NYC and Texas- I guess now I just need to find them in LA :) But good news for me and everyone else: Coolhaus is now sold in many retail stores, as well as available for purchase online! Trust me on this one, get you some Coolhaus ice cream, stat!
deliciously ella
I've been following Ella Mills (@DeliciouslyElla) for a while now, and was super excited when she opened The MaE Deli (now called Deliciously Ella) along with her husband, Matthew. Now with multiple locations around London, the delis offer natural, seasonal, and delicious food. While I (luckily) don't have any allergies or need to avoid any specific ingredients, all the food at The MaE Deli is free from wheat, dairy, additives, and refined sugar, making it the perfect, healthy spot for breakfast or lunch for just about anyone. On a recent trip to London, I visited twice, and loved all the fresh, colorful options to choose from. I created my own "MaE Bowl", with miso broccolini salad, sweet potato with coriander tahini, cauliflower & broad bean falafel, and grilled vegetables with sorrel pesto, all topped with avocado pesto dip! Talk about a mouthful, but this is my favorite kind of lunch. Veggie-based, full of flavor, and super healthy and satisfying!
You know me- I rarely pass on the sweets, and this occasion was no different. The fudgy brownie tastes sinful and indulgent, but is far from it. I love when a dessert still tastes rich and decadent, but isn't full of a bunch of processed crap! Win-win! And how pretty is the hot pink frosting on that red velvet cupcake?! You can now also buy Ella's energy balls in various stores around London (like Whole Foods!). These bite-sized treats, made from nuts and fruits, are great, quick sources of energy and protein, and delicious to boot! I like keeping a few in my bag for whenever I start to get hangry. Here's hoping a NYC location opens soon!
messina gelato
Long before my husband and I ever stepped foot in Australia for our recent vacation, I started to research places to eat. Food is such a big part of our lives, and eating at new exciting places is one of the best parts of vacation in my humble opinion! Messina Gelato came up on several lists I'd read as a must-visit place for ice cream! Their made-from-scratch, unique flavors created with high-quality, natural ingredients yield some seriously creamy and delicious gelato. Messina has 35 signature flavors, plus 5 specials per week, so there's always something new and unique to try! Many of their flavors contain lots of tasty mix-ins, which are the key to my heart when it comes to ice cream. It was super difficult to narrow it down, but after much deliberation (and several taste tests!), I finally decided on pandan & coconut (which was dairy-free) and monoffee pie, one of the daily specials- caramel gelato with banana jam, whipped cream & pie crust! My husband went his usual chocolate route, but they had so many tempting chocolate offerings, his cup was anything but boring. Think milk chocolate gelato with chocolate peanut fudge, peanut butter gelato with chocolate brownies & dulce de leche jam, and chocolate hazelnut tiramisu gelato with mocha soaked biscuits! I could go on and on about all the over-the-top flavors, but just trust me and definitely stop by if you're ever in Sydney or Melbourne. I only wish we had more time to try them all!
sweets by chloe
I obviously love a baked good, vegan or not. But when a bakery can whip up delicious treats without using butter or eggs, it's pretty impressive. I'd been wanting to try Sweets by Chloe for some time now, and finally stopped by during fashion week on a quick break between shows with a friend. The daily menu consists of several types of cookies, cakes, cupcakes, and breads, all of which are baked from scratch daily. Although the banana cream pie, carrot cake, and cinnamon espresso chocolate chip cookie all looked tempting, we decided on the peanut butter everything cookie and a slice of the matcha chocolate babka. The cookie was super peanut buttery with a nice texture from all the various mix-ins (oats, nuts, raisins), however it could've been baked just a bit less for my taste. The babka, however, was amazing! The subtle hint of matcha paired perfectly with the melted chocolate. I loved pulling it apart layer by layer to reveal more ooey gooey pockets! Doughy and delicious! I can't wait to go back and try the Chill by Chloe ice creams too. How good does coffee ice cream with homemade cinnamon rolls sound, or what about a push pop of salted caramel ice cream with homemade banana bread? Yum!!!
magpies soft serve
I love soft serve. I love ice cream too, but I enjoy it even more once it's gotten a bit softer and all melty. I joke that my husband and I share a pint together perfectly, as he loves the cold, hard stuff and eats straight down the middle, while I prefer the edges of the pint that start to melt right off the bat! Magpies Softserve is what many would call "chef-driven" soft serve. It provides the same nostalgic feel of a dip from Dairy Queen, but with super creative and freshly made flavors and toppings. Everything is made in-house in the Silver Lake dessert shop, and you can totally taste the difference in quality. They even offer vegan, non-dairy options, which are equally as satisfying as their dairy counterparts. I went with a swirl of corn almond and Mexican hot chocolate soft serve, topped with almond brittle and chocolate covered honeycomb! Talk about unique, and oh so delicious! Other flavor options include malted milk chocolate, cookie butter (my heaven!), pumpkin, and coffee, and the topping options are just as tempting: graham cracker streusel, butterscotch Rice Krispies, toasted maple coconut chips, and vegan fudge sauce! I only wish they'd open a location in New York! Until then, Magpies remains at the top of my must-visit list when in Los Angeles.
local foods
Local Foods is one of my favorite lunch spots in my hometown of Houston, Texas. They serve a gourmet selection of sandwiches and salads, all prepared with delicious, local ingredients. There are tons of fresh and satisfying options to choose from, including a banh mi, chicken posole, a vegan quinoa burger, and several seasonal salads. My favorite sandwich is the Garden Sammie, which is filled to the brim with Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, local sprouts, pickled onion, tomato, avocado spread & hummus on a chewy Ciabatta bun. You can also get their sandwiches made as salads, so occasionally I do that and add grilled chicken, which is equally tasty! But sometimes freshly baked bread is really where it's at, ya know? It comes with your choice of two sides, and instead of the typical (and boring!) fries or mixed greens, Local Foods offers some truly flavorful and worthy options, like Tuscan kale salad, cauliflower tabbouli, soba noodles, and quinoa!
There's truly something for everyone here, making it the perfect spot for a family and friends get-together anytime I'm back home. Don't miss the freshly baked sweets at the counter when you're ordering! The butterscotch blondie and chocolate cupcake are deliciously decadent and totally worth the indulgence!