July 6, 2012
Not too long ago, I posted about a Coffee + Ice Cream collaboration between Batdorf & Bronson and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. The two teamed up to create the fresh, hand-crafted re-boot of Jeni’s “Black Coffee” ice cream flavor. It’s kind of interesting—I’ve not actually had the pleasure of trying the Batdorf-brewed ice cream, because locally, Jeni’s still uses a local roaster as a coffee supplier. I admire the company’s commitment to the local Columbus community, but am admittedly bummed about never having tried it. As far as I can tell, the collaboration has been a huge success.
I’ve said this before, but Jeni’s is a special thing to the Columbus area, going far beyond the quality ingredients used to make ice cream and their commitment to hand-crafting it. Those things are only the tip of the iceberg. There’s a certain sense of pride locals have in recommending their favorite local Scoop Shop to out-of-towners. Every time Jeni racks up another award for having “America’s Best Ice Cream” or wins a James Beard award for her cookbook, it further solidifies that pride.
I’m a huge fan of Columbus, Ohio—it’s a blossoming city in the midst of defining itself, and I believe Jeni’s has a lot to do with that. There are plenty of write-ups and articles out there that explain how Jeni Britton-Bauer went from making ice cream in a bucket at Columbus’ North Market to owning several shops in Ohio and Tennessee that are worth a read. Jeni’s rise is good evidence that commitment to a unique idea and passion is more powerful than a simple business plan.
It’s been hot as of late, with temperatures reaching well over 95 degrees and storms that have knocked the power out in large areas of Ohio. This doodle is inspired by my favorite trio of flavors, as well as a couple visits to Jeni’s over the weekend, where we were served with a smile, despite long lines and hot-and-bothered customers, at both the Bexley and Powell Scoop Shops. Thanks for being such an amazing part of Columbus!
Jeni’s ships to all 50 States, so you have no excuse.
