by Hannah Baade |
In a tribute to chocolate fanatics, Salt and Straw unleashed five new flavors this February. They teamed up with Portland chocolatiers to create flavors that really impressed me, after what I deemed a lackluster set of New Year’s flavors. I’ve been back twice since they introduced these, and I am so incredibly thankful. None of the flavors are kitschy pink and candy based (Valentine’s Day candy was so 2007), and all of them can stand individually as really impressive ice cream creations. All hail Salt and Straw; may your reign be endless (and delicious).
One: When Salt and Straw does sorbet, it’s always heavenly. So bless the chocolate gods who helped craft the Xocolatl de David’s Chocolate & Hibiscus Flower Sorbet. It’s a tangy fresh sorbet full of chocolate flakes and the most vibrant pink color I’ve ever seen. It comes with a magic shell coating which gets drizzled on after it gets scooped. It takes the fruity flavor to the next level and looks gorgeous.
Two: Everyone loves PB&J. But I never thought it would arrive in chocolate ice cream form. Alma’s PB&J Chocolate Bar captures everything you could want in something with that name, but it’s so good because the chocolate base is some of the best ice cream ever. Salt and Straw has a knack for blending flavors without obliterating them, and the little gobs of strawberry jam peeking out of my ice cream were swoon-worthy.
Three: I don't know why I loved this one so much, but I think it boils down to just real, good chocolate with just enough maple to exotify it. Cocanu’s Valentina: Maple and Rose Chocolate Garden makes me want to find love and eternal happiness...at the bottom of my waffle cone. Also, employees won’t judge if you ask for a couple samples of this one. It’s that good.
Four: My go-to at Salt and Straw flavor will always be the Woodblock Chocolate, so it was hard not to compare Woodblock Chocolate’s Single Origins Chocolate and Coffee to the mainstay flavor. For coffee (or for you pretentious European hipsters, affogato) lovers, it's an obvious yes.
Five: For Halloween, Ruby Jewel had flavors like Spicy Chocolate Sorbet that showed me what ice cream can be if you add a little spice. Finally, Salt and Straw responded with this killer coconut-milk based Missionary Chocolate’s Coconut Cinnamon Chipotle Rocky Road. It’s a sure win for people with a sweet tooth (or teeth), as the marshmallows are super fluffy and the cinnamon gives it a twist and leaves a nice little fire burning on your tongue. I would recommend getting a second scoop of the Hibiscus Sorbet to soothe your spicy palate.
Hannah Baade is the assistant design editor of The Beacon. She can be reached at baade18@up.edu.
