![\"Anniversary](\"http:\/\/boydsnest.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/anniversary-1000.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n_Jon and I went to Jeni’s for our 13th anniversary last week. Flavors: (on top) black coffee, queen city cayenne, brown butter almond brittle; (on bottom) brambleberry crisp and askinosie dark milk chocolate._<\/p>\n
In July 2012, en route to Washington, DC, I convinced my family (twice) to go just a teensy bit out of our way to visit a Jeni’s Scoop Shop. It was glorious. I think I sampled fifteen ice creams at that first shop, as well as purchasing a four-scoop dish and asking all of the employees to sign my cookbook. It was a blast to experience a serious multi-ice-cream tasting all at once, as opposed to the usual two or three flavors we can make at one time at home. We just don’t have the freezer space for fifteen flavors, nor the manpower to eat them all. Life is hard. So you can imagine how ecstatic I was to learn that Jeni was opening “a store in Chicago”:http:\/\/www.jenis.com\/southport\/, just a few stops away from us on the Brown Line. We stood in line (the whole family insisted on coming!) for an hour and a half on their first pre-opening night, when they were giving away free scoops to all fans. That night, after the girls were tucked into bed and we all snuggled in with bellies full of sugar and fresh cream, Jon asked me, “Can you put your finger on why is this such a big deal for you? You were so giddy tonight about meeting Jeni and eating the ice cream. I know it is great, but…what is it all about for you?”<\/p>\n This got me thinking. The truth is, although it was a serious perk to meet Jeni herself, I was especially excited about the store opening. I am so pleased that I now have the chance to try all the flavors, especially the extra-unique ones (like Roasted Pumpkin Five-Spice or Bergamot Frozen Yogurt) that I might not necessarily make for my family. I also have the chance to try all of the premium ingredients that Jeni searches the world for (like the different chocolates she uses in her three different chocolate flavors — all, amazingly, very distinct!). I am really looking forward to tasting more of the confections she describes in her book, like ice cream sandwiches and sundaes. I have made a couple, and they are fabulous, but it can take literally four or five days to make all of the components. And wouldn’t it be nice to have someone else do that for you, say, on your birthday?<\/p>\n _Baked alaska pie with salty caramel ice cream — totally spectacular._<\/p>\n Perhaps the best comparison I can make is that having a local Jeni’s store is like having an amazing wine bar nearby, except cheaper, and with sugar and butterfat instead of booze. That’s my style. Coming from a background in Weight Watchers, I’ve been a devoted Edy’s Light fan for many years, and while I don’t have anything against the slow-churning low-fat process, I’ve discovered that having heaping tablespoon of Jeni’s scooped into an espresso cup is more satisfying for my 100 calories than a half-cup of Edy’s. Plus, it’s just awesomer.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\n_At Jeni’s in Columbus, Ohio._<\/p>\n<\/a>
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\nI begged one of the employees to take my phone into the store before it opened and take a photo of the menu so I could plan my flavor combination. I got to meet Jeni and tell her all about how she completely transformed my view of homemade ice cream, and she signed my book. Then I sat down to enjoy my triple scoop of Loveless Biscuits + Peach Jam, Cloverton Cheese, and Sweet Corn + Black Raspberries. A very satisfying evening.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\n_Meeting the woman behind the magic curtain: Jeni Britton Bauer._<\/p>\n<\/a>
\n_Jeni’s Tuscan sundae was my treat for unbirthday number 38½ in August. I had to get a serious head start that week making the Salty Caramel Ice Cream, homemade biscotti, honey and vin santo sauce, and the brandied cherries. Good thing we didn’t have to whip the cream in advance, too. (Bon Appetit posted the recipe “here”:http:\/\/www.bonappetit.com\/events\/promotions\/article\/make-jeni-s-splendid-salty-caramel-ice-cream-sundae.)_<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n