Interactive Thursday: Calling All (s)Creamers!
Although he will be cutting back on it this summer to drop 175 pounds in order to be on hand for the winter equinox (his favorite holiday) festivities in Nuuk, Junk Thief has noticed ice cream coming up a lot in blog entries by Mouse, Allan at Mission/Mission and What 
I'm Seeing. So which is the best?That's such a subjective question, but here is a round up of places that are (mostly) in the Mission. All three of the above bloggers mentioned Mitchell's. There appear to be creameries of the same name in both San Francisco and Cleveland. As far as we know there is no connection between the two (or the Mitchell Brothers' O'Farrell Theater or Joni Mitchell if you are that obsessive), but our Mitchell's down in the Dirty 30 or (as we am now calling it) SOCC (South of Cesar Chavez) is beloved by many.
Of course the Saint Francis Fountain which is closer than a stone's throw away from the JunkPlex used to make their own ice cream but now relies on Mitchell's for their trademark malts and shakes.
Decidedly more offbeat but with a loyal following is the Bombay Ice Creamery on Valencia which definitely offers more than the standard Rocky Road, and you can step into the adjacent bazaar to pick up a sari or Ganesh.
Junk Thief's favorite, however, is Pollyann out in the avenues which is about as old as Mitchell's but has taken a more offbeat approach since being bought by the Wu family in 1985 when they introduced lichee, taro, red bean (Junk Thief's absolute favorite) and other flavors. Author Andrew Sean Greer's recent book The Story of a Marriage makes mention of the original owners' signature "Suicide" which brought in every possible syrup and topping back in the 1950s. Oddly, we are able to get many of their current products at the Walgreen's in my neighborhood.That's merely the tip of the ice cream cone, and we've not even touched the gelato shops in town. So, what's your favorite. Of course, Junk Thief will be holding back for now and will just put sage drops on ice cubes and pretend he's at Pollyann for now.
So, what's your favorite?
Labels: 24th Street, ice cream, The Mission
posted by Ladrón de Basura (a.k.a. Junk Thief) @ 5:16 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
I would like to do an ice cream tasting - perhaps I could sample all the creameries that are called mitchells?
and next time I'm in s.f. you can count on me going by bomb_y and pollyann... what flavors they offer. I wonder if I can get pete (the mitchell bro I'm closer to) to introduce green tea?
tis the season!
Mouse - You could tell Pete Mitchell that Pollyann was a very traditional white bread/vanilla place and then diversified. Of course, 98% of the people in that neighborhood are Asian, so they changed with the times and demographics. I like Bombay without the A. Has more style, I say...
there's really nothing better than the fig ice cream at bombay. offbeat, sure. but it's rich and sweet and fruity and slightly savory or something. perfecto!
Allan - A great suggestion.
The coconut gelato at Angelo Brocato's here in NO is well worth the four-mile bicycle ride.
Dave - Maybe I should get on my bike and come down. I might lose the 175 pounds on the round trip.
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