TOP PICK OF THE WEEK: McConnell’s Ice Cream
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California-based McConnell’s Ice Cream has always been a small family company. Founded in Santa Barbara in 1949, the McConnells made everything from scratch, in small batches, with milk and cream from cows who graze on Central Coast pasture. It’s still made the same way—including pasteurizing the raw milk at The Old Dairy creamery (it dates to 1934).
Happy cows give happy milk, and these California girls graze on green grass under blue skies. If you’re a cow, there’s nothing better. Add the finest local, sustainable and organic ingredients—from the cage-free eggs to strawberries grown down the road. Avoid preservatives, stabilizers, or additives of any kind. The result: ice cream that tastes fresher, more vibrant and creamier (the ice cream now has more than 18% milk fat). The company is under new management (also a family), the ice cream is even better than we remember. Perhaps that’s because one of the owners is an executive chef-restaurateur, and the other is a veteran of winemaking (who grew up eating McConnell’s). They used their palates to fine-tune the classic recipes and create quite a few others. They also spent the better part of two years modernizing the equipment and production process. |
Chocolate With Raspberry Jam. |
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And they’re taking their updated line on the road: The brand is branching out nationwide. Look for it in specialty food stores and upscale supermarkets. The flavors change seasonally, but a representative sample includes: |
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 While much is updated and improved at McConnell’s Ice Cream, the classic packaging remains. Photo courtesy McConnell’s. |
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One of this summer’s specials is Boysenberry Rose Milk Jam, an impressive combination (though we’re not one for all those boysenberry seeds). We recently tasted an upcoming fall flavor, Cardamom & Swedish Gingersnaps, that was so good, before we knew it the pint was empty (and we hadn’t gotten up from the table). If you can’t wait for the ice cream to show up in your local store, you can order it from the website. For the person who has everything, send it as a gift! For more information, visit McConnells.com.
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