After filling our bellies with as much Korean barbeque as our stomachs and wallets could handle, what we were looking for on this particular evening was simple.
We weren’t looking for innovation, for the strangest ice cream flavors in town; we were just looking for a sweet note to finish off our night.
And what we found, tucked away amid the inviting crowd of small, trendy eateries lining Third Street, was just that.
What hit us first was the sweet smell wafting out onto the sidewalk.
Led by our noses, we entered the understated shop and found ourselves surrounded by off-white walls, cool blue tiles and the source of the aroma: freshly made waffle cones.
The menu at Carmela Ice Cream was also nothing ostentatious; the list of flavors was brief and the options held comfortably familiar elements such as vanilla bean and salted caramel.
What set it apart though was a perfect balance of simplicity and adventure, nice for a subtle touch to complement an evening of heavy dining, without expanding into unnecessarily bold territory. The menu ranged from flavors such as strawberry buttermilk to carrot orange ginger sorbet and rose petal.
Keeping in line with our dinner, we shared our orders: various scoops of different ice cream flavors and one sorbet. This is probably the best way to enjoy Carmela. Mini bites of a rich flavor here and a spiced one there kept things fresh and exciting for our palates.
The toasted almond with melted chocolate drizzle was rich and indulgent enough to satisfy the most hardened sweet tooth, yet had a nice savory aftertaste to avoid the over-sweetness that plagues most simple flavors.
Alone, it was commendable, but with a host of other compelling fare, it provided a tasty jumping-off point to explore the other flavors offered.
For those looking for something a little off the beaten path, the Earl Grey flavor was excellently adapted for the frozen form, sweet and rich, yet still holding onto its distinctive citrusy tea taste.
In between bites, we were kept refreshed by the lemon basil sorbet. The zesty herbal kick was a perfect break from the overt creaminess that the other flavors offered.
Similar to slices of ginger in a sushi meal, the sorbet and the lavender honey flavor were perfect refreshers between succulent bites of caramel, chocolate and vanilla.
It wasn’t one particular flavor that stood out, but rather the combination of all that we tried as a group that made our ice cream excursion an experience.
If you find yourself looking for a reliably refreshing dessert spot to punctuate the end of your night, Carmela Ice Cream may prove a welcome investment. Just remember to bring some friends along.
Would lavender honey ice cream refresh your taste buds after a savory meal? Email your answers to A&E; at ae@media.ucla.edu.