This past weekend, Grant and I had the supreme pleasure of attending Sunday Suppers.
As part of our cooking class, we met Ben Van Leeuwen, one of the brothers who created Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream, and his wife/business partner, Laura O’Neill. (Founding brother, Peter, was scooping ice cream elsewhere this night.
Laura and Ben
With the enthusiasm of little children, we watched and listened as Ben & Laura made chocolate ice cream, while describing their artisan process and their special sources for ingredients – Michel Cluizel chocolate, pistachios from Sicily – and local, organic milk, eggs and cream.
Once the rich, creamy chocolate custard was ready, Ben pulled it off the stove and offered us each a spoon. It tasted like the most delicious, decadent hot chocolate! After dinner, we were able to enjoy it in its chilled state of perfection.
With a sense of humor, and as a former driver for Good Humor, Ben and his team, have retrofitted 3 mail carrier trucks – painted them a butter cream yellow – and dispatched them to locations throughout New York City.
To find where the trucks will be on any given day….just follow them on Twitter. What else would a team of entrepreneurial twenty-somethings do?! So, whether you live in Manhattan, go in occasionally or are planning a trip to the Big Apple….track down one of their trucks. I promise you, it’s worth it!
Luckily for me, my nearby Whole Foods stocks them too! So, in the “name of research” (big grin), I tried their Vanilla and Pistachio flavors tonight. Let’s just say…..Ben and Jerry who?
Have you tasted Van Leeuwen ice cream yet?
xo, Elizabeth
A little R & D is on the agenda.
I rather love the name along with that sweet cream truck. ( My sons laugh, because my big brother served them some yummy ice cream and he asked in his southern accent, "How ya like the cream boys?")
I think Summer and ice cream make a great pair!
looks so yummy!
Any chance they are stocking stores in the Mystic, CT area? I certain it would go nicely with my morning coffee:)
Jo
My FAVORITE food–ice cream. This sounds like perfection. Probably not much chance of having it stocked anywhere in East TN!!! However, my daughter lives in NYC and I'm planning a trip to visit next month. Maybe…
Not yet… but given that ice cream is one of my favorite food groups, it looks like a trip to Whole Foods or NYC is definitely in the near future for me!
Perfect – a dinner where you taste dessert First!
woe…not yet, but suddenly feeling the need to head out to whole foods…stat!
mmmm I haven't tried this and it looks delish!
I have a New Giveaway!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Mmmmmm what a fun evening!
I will have to look for them the next time I am in NYC!
I will be making my own ice cream next week :O)
Pve – r&d is right!!!
Perfect Gray – I swear, it really is!
Jo – they list their stockist on their website. I'll be a request to your local store might make a difference! Just passed Mystic 2 weeks ago on our way back from NH!
Days – I usually can resist…but this is so good and perfect for this time of year. They'll have pumpkin for the fall!
Buzz – it's dinner party worthy!
Stitchfork – so true, dessert first was fun!
Zhush – even your neighbor Martha Stewart approves!
Karena – so glad you stopped by!
Surburnban – definitely!
xoxo elizabeth
How fun! Ice cream is one of our favs around here. We have just a little every night. Cringe!
Well I am going to have do get my homework started there!
Boy, I sure do now!!! I wonder if our Whole Foods carries it?
Yum!!!
No, I have not, but I will be on a mission now. And dinner party worthy; now, that is a good suggestion.
Best,
Colleen
I have always thought that an ice cream truck with GOOD ice cream was a fabulous idea! I love the vintage feel of their trucks and could that couple be any cuter?
It looks like they only sell it in NY…I guess this is ANOTHER reason to come visit 🙂
Never had it, but it sounds wonderful! Thanks so much for your visit and comment – great to have you stop by.
Mona – I'm going to have to put a padlock on my freezer!
La Dolfina – don't think they've made it to the West Coast, but put in a request!
North of 25A – you can definitely get it on LI!!
Alexis – there are so many reasons you need to get on a plane and come out! 🙂
Annechovie – thanks for stopping by!
xoxo elizabeth
We don't have this brand in the South yet either! It look cool and delicious! How fun to be able to do "Sunday Suppers" classes!!
Oh, their ice cream is heavenly!!!
I have not tried their ice cream, but to not try sounds like I'd be missing out on something good in life! Sunday Suppers sounds like a must try experience. Is it year round? I'm wondering if I can try the experience during the Fall.
L-U-C-K-Y!
Looks delish. Hoping our Whole Foods stocks it too. Michele