I Spy Ice Cream: Ici and Humphry Slocombe

Initially I wanted to do separate posts on these ice cream joints but I figure that they can be friends. 

I used to pass Ici on my bus ride to the Cal campus from Rockridge BART station while I was a student. (Yep, this is another College Avenue treat.)

I never had the time to check it out although its lineup had always peaked my curiosity. 


Finally, two years later, after hearing the raves of my wonderful friend Rachel, she convinced me to see what the big deal is. It turns out I really held off on a good thing. 




The word ici means "here" in French, and for the sake of the pun, I would say that if you want artisanal ice cream with endearing, adventurous flavors...go Ici. 






Ici is located on a block along College Avenue that is bursting with bookshops, cafés, boutiques, and gastronomical variety. It's situated between Rockridge BART station and the Cal campus rather equidistantly, which serves as a pleasant 20-minute walk from either end. 

Pictured on the right is a chalkboard menu that they put up against a tree in front of the store. The weekly flavors all have their own flair, whether you want a creamy indulgence or refreshing sherbet. For my first Ici experience, I decided to go all out and chose their Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Dough.

Surprisingly enough, it isn't overbearingly sweet given its name. And at $2.85 for a single scoop, you can't beat the price for such a wealthy serving. Add $.75 for a handmade cone with a chunk of creamy chocolate at the bottom, and you may consider your life complete. 

You can by all means take your chances with the flavors and pick one at random, but you can also sample up to three flavors to make a delightfully educated decision. 



The interior of the store is quaint and inviting, cream-colored, and rather feminine. You can take a quick peek into the kitchen and see their ice cream bombes or bon bons in the making.

Ice cream bombes are ice cream cakes. And thanks to my buddy Rachel again, she brought in a Strawberry Lemon Baked Alaska from Ici to work.

A quick zap in the oven crisps the delicate meringue layer that gives way to a perfect marriage of strawberry and lemon ice creams, all of which sit on top of a thin layer of buttery cake. 

Their ice cream bombe selection also includes a chocolate swirl, mini bombes, and even a fluted extra large bombe for a populous occasion. Both the baked alaska and chocolate swirl come in 3 different sizes—small, medium, and large—and cost $18.50, $30.50, $40.50, respectively.

Next up is Humphry Slocombe, located in San Francisco's Mission District. You can easily miss it given its incredibly understated storefront, including a blue awning that simply says "ice cream." You're most likely going to be a part of a long line as well, and like Ici, they have an interesting array of flavor choices (although a bit more adventurous) that varies frequently: Balsamic Caramel, Foie Gras, Guinness Gingerbread, just to name a few. 

My favorite is their Peanut Butter Curry ice cream (pictured right). Genius. Every spoonful or lick has a sweet and spicy bite to it. The first taste is that of the creamy peanut butter but suddenly you get a charming, curry undertone that suddenly becomes the main event in your mouth. Another favorite of mine is their Jesus Juice Sorbet, which is a combination of red wine and cola. There's something quite sinister in this fusion but it turns out to be a very fun treat.


A single scoop (kids) is $2.75, a double scoop (small) is $3.75, and three scoops (double) are $5.00.

Locations: 

Ici / 2948 College Avenue, Berkeley, CA

Humphry Slocombe / 2790 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA