I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!

It’s August and one can’t help thinking about ice cream, that sweet refreshing treat that reminds us of summer, long days, school vacations, and the beach.  A new ice cream store has just opened in San Clemente and so, in service to all the residents in the Gallery, we decided to give it a try.  While we were at it, we thought it would be helpful to sample some other existing ice cream shops.  Too much of a good thing?  Nah!

The New One:  Handel’s

Handel’s advertises that their ice cream is made fresh daily at each store.  There are several Handel’s locations in Orange County, San Clemente’s store is in the Stater Brothers Shopping Center on Camino de los Mares and opened a couple months ago.  Each store makes a variety of flavors, somewhere around 45, but the available flavors vary by site.

Prices start at $4.50 for a small cone or dish.  I had “salty caramel truffle” and my companion tried “peanut butter parfait.” The ice cream was very tasty and mine had big chunks of chocolate.  However, it was soft and melted quickly, making me think that it would be difficult to transport back to the Gallery without a cooler.  My biggest objection to Handel’s was that the store is walk-up only.  There is no indoor service so one approaches the window, looks at the list of flavors and options, and gives their order.  You don’t see the ice cream, which I find is an aid in making a choice.  Also, there is currently no place to sit down and enjoy one’s treat, except to sit in the car and, unfortunately, this shopping center doesn’t provide much of interest for strolling or people watching.

Del Mar Classic:  Paradis

Paradis Ice Cream is a Danish company that now has stores around the world.  They offer a dozen or so flavors with some vegan choices.  The ice cream is displayed indoors in a typical freezer case and samples are available for the asking.  The store is located on the south side of Del Mar close to El Camino Real.  There are a couple of tables in front of the store and benches along Del Mar to sit and enjoy one’s treat.  Of course, there are always some interesting sights if you choose to walk up and down the street.

A small cone or dish starts at $4.99.  This time we splurged and I got two scoops, Rocha and Salted Caramel.  Very yummy but none of the big chunks of chocolate that I found at Handel’s.  Overall, though, a pleasant experience for both ice cream and ambiance.

Beach Treat:  Surf’s Up Frozen Yogurt and Ice Cream

Located across from the San Clemente Pier, this store has been a beach fixture for a long time.  The store is tiny and we had to wait for a server to come over from the pizza restaurant to assist us.  There were only a handful of choices and the ice cream is Blue Bunny, also available in your local grocery store.  I had my favorite salted caramel, which was good, but not as special as the other locations.  A small cup or cone starts at $5.00 but we were able to get a child’s portion (probably also known as a senior special) for $3.50.

The beauty of this store is, of course, the location.  We sat at the tables outside and enjoyed watching San Clemente’s tow-headed youth walking about and meeting their parents to be driven home in their electric carts.  You can also walk over to the grassy park and sit on the benches to watch the surfers.

News Flash:  Baskin-Robbins

The Baskin-Robbins store located at the corner of El Camino Real and Del Mar is no longer.  Although the sign in the parking lot of the Verizon store is still there, the store is gone.

The Final Word:  It Depends

If you just need a special ice cream “fix” try Handel’s for variety and taste.  For the San Clemente experience, try one of the other two.

Know of something interesting you would like to share with our Gallery community? 

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