The Culinary Works

I am SO ready for summer! Although our weather has been quite temperamental this spring (I am still turning the heat on!) -- Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates is coaxing summer by offering some delectable frozen treats and the start up of Saturday Ice Cream Socials on Midtown's 2nd Saturdays. I already missed the May event but check out the June sundae to be offered: Tahitian Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Lime Sherbet, Vanilla Roasted Pineapple Brunoise, Thai Basil Scented Pineapple Jus, Lime Shortbread, Chantilly Cream. Goodness, Miss Ginger is speaking my language!

All who know me know that I LOVE ice cream -- I continually sing that "Ice Cream and Cake" song in my head and have some close up and personal experience with the finer points of scooping. My first job was in an ice cream shop in Ohio (still there, over 50 years) -- the owner was closed every Monday to make the ice cream. It is here I learned the finer points of key, quality ingredients and have been an ice cream snob ever since. Don't get me wrong, I do sometimes have an urge for the pistachio @ Rite Aid but more than anything, I get so excited when I see something "different" in ice cream land vs. the typical.

A few weeks ago, it was actually warm out and a friend and I walked over to Ginger Elizabeth for a try of their newly revealed summer treats. Wow! Chocolate Salty Cocoa Nib Ice Cream Bar was first up on the tasting menu -- dipped in that delectable Ginger E chocolate. And the Pistachio Parisian Macaroon Ice Cream Sandwich was also a winner. Good thing I just got a tune up on my cruiser, I am going to need to pedal hard to burn those calories I will be racking up during my foreseen frequent trips! Ginger is also offering frozen hot chocolate (uh, yeah!) - that is definitely next on my list. Of course, I had to buy 3 salty caramel macaroon to go -- I never leave the store without some of those (and a few pieces of chocolate!).

Check out the summer treat menu @ Ginger Elizabeth's -- the perfect antidote for our Sacramento hot weather!

http://gingerelizabeth.com/