11 July 13-19, 2023 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | Contents | Letters | news | night+Day | Culture | Cafe | MusiC | Month XX–Month XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Cold Comfort Lick up the flavors at Miami’s ten best ice cream parlors. BY NICOLE DANNA I n South Florida, we know heat — and how to beat it. Between air-condition- ing, swimming pools, a dip in the ocean, and a plethora of ice cream and serve- yourself froyo shops, we’ve got summer meltdowns covered. As temperatures soar across the Magic City, one can’t help but crave a scoop of ice cream. At this time of year, more than ever, your neighborhood ice cream parlor becomes a sanctuary. From crazy flavors and adults-only scoops to design-your-own ice cream cookie sandwiches and sundaes sprinkled with everything but the kitchen sink, here’s an alphabetical list of the top ten shops where you can procure summer’s most essential treat. Aubi & Ramsa 172 NE 41st St., Miami 305-946-9072 aubiramsa.com A wall of bottles glows behind a wooden bar at Aubi & Ramsa, but this is no ordinary wa- tering hole. In the heart of Miami’s Design District, you’ll find your spirit choice as an icy scoop rather than a liquid pour. The shop, open to patrons age 21 and older, offers fro- zen treats fused with various spirits, from tequila and rosé to vodka, gin, and red wine. Try the mojito-inspired sorbet spiked with Zacapa 23, a key lime pie martini scoop with St. George Botanivore gin and flecks of graham cracker, or a serving of Moët & Chan- don Imperial Brut in a mimosa-like take on tangerine sorbet. Azucar Ice Cream Company 1503 SW Eighth St., Miami 305-381-0369 azucaricecream.com When you’re strolling along Calle Ocho in the afternoon, nothing satisfies like a scoop of something cold. So pop into Azucar Ice Cream Company, where you’ll find flavors that could be dreamed up only in Miami. Lo- cated in the heart of Little Havana, this shop has long served frozen sweets with Cuban flair. Instead of downing scoops of French va- nilla and bubblegum, you’ll savor flavors such as café con leche, plátano maduro (sweet plantain), guarapiña (sugarcane and pineap- ple), and the “Abuela María” (vanilla ice cream with ripe guava, chunks of cream cheese, and crushed Maria cookies). Bianco Gelato 9700 Collins Ave., Bal Harbour 305-397-8243 instagram.com/biancogelato Owned by husband-and-wife team Federico and Carla DiFranco, Bianco Gelato has grown into a successful chain of shops ped- dling gelato, the Italian take on ice cream that offers a maximum ten-percent fat con- tent compared with the 30 percent or more in its more common dairy cousin. DiFranco, who hails from Milan, knows a thing or two about gelato: His family has been making the Italian version of America’s favorite treat for years. At Bianco, the duo offers dozens of flavors that use all-natural and organic in- gredients — from local fruits and pistachios from Sicily to hazelnuts from Alba and al- monds from the Mediterranean. Try the pink salt caramel peanut butter, the Belgian chocolate, and the “Coconut Grove” (a tri- ple-coconut experience made with fresh co- conut). Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream Various locations chillnicecream.com There’s no better way to beat the Miami heat than with a scoop or two at Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream. With a plethora of outposts across South Florida — Aventura, Coconut Grove, Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Plantation, Pompano Beach, and South Miami — you’re guaranteed to find Chill-N’s trademark flash- frozen treat that’s fresh, creamy, and entertaining. Best of all: It’s totally customizable. Start with a base (cream, yogurt, tart yogurt, and dairy-free milk alternatives are available) before adding flavor (from classics like vanilla and chocolate to more offbeat ones like biscotti and matcha). From there, feel free to toss in the “Mix-N’s” (fun bits like cookie dough and fresh berries for taste and texture). From there, the entire concoction is flash- frozen into solid scoops in a puff of vapor before your eyes. Our pick for “Best Ice Cream” in the 2023 edition of Best of Miami. Cry Baby Creamery 17389 S. Dixie Hwy., Palmetto Bay 305-741-2722 maxwellbros.beer If croqueta-shaped ice cream rolls, popsicle beer floats, and ice cream sandwiches sound good enough to cry over, then you’ll want to head to Cry Baby Creamery, located inside Maxwell Brothers Clothing Store in Palmetto Bay. Here, Lincoln’s Beard Brewery owner John Falco is pursuing his latest venture, which takes the form of a menu that’s heavy on small-batch artisan ice creams like the “Viva Pastelito” (mascarpone and cream cheese ice cream with swirls of guava marmalade and caramelized puff pastry) and “Bean to Cone” (a rich milk- chocolate ice cream accented with Miami- made Exquisito chocolate). Don’t miss the novelty items and specials that rotate weekly or monthly. These have included Cry Baby’s take on ice cream-stuffed tacos, pies, and sandwiches made with everything from a dense, house-baked pound cake to Fruity Pebbles blondies. Dasher & Crank 2211 NW Second Ave., Miami 305-213-1569 dasherandcrank.com Dasher & Crank is a chef-driven craft ice cream shop that revolves around a rotating lineup of flavors, most of them unique con- coctions you won’t find anywhere else. Mak- ing everything in small batches means the menu is always changing — their first year of business saw more than 420 flavors — with new flavors debuting each week. These days, the most popular is a vegan offering called “Ube Macapuno,” a coconut ice cream fla- vored with Filipino purple yams. You can pack whatever you choose into a pint, stacked on a cone, blended into a milkshake, or stuffed between cookies, brownies, or cup- cakes for a create-your-own ice cream sand- wich. Frice Cream 8300 NE Second Ave., Miami 305-901-0731 fricecream.miami When chefs Jeremy and Alissa Frice moved to Miami, their dream was to open an ice cream shop that could pay homage to their combined experiences in the kitchen. Alissa spent her career focusing on the sweeter side of things while Jeremy cultivated his savory palate. Together they create amazing ice cream. At Frice Cream, each flavor begins with a rich French custard base the couple flavors with a bounty of fresh, local ▼ Café The Frieze Ice Cream Factory photo The Frieze has a long history of serving scoops in Miami Beach. >> p12 THE FRIEZE IS A SOUTH BEACH STAPLE, WHIPPING UP HOMEMADE AND UNIQUELY NAMED FLAVORS.
