California's Exceptional McConnell's Ice Cream Finally Arrives In NYC

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We've already fallen in love with one transplant ice cream and now here comes Santa Barbara's 65-year-old McConnell's Fine Ice Cream, landing in NYC for the first time ever—and goshdarnit it's incredible. Our friends in LA agree!

Like many independent ice cream makers, McConnell's prides itself on their holistic approach, whereby they're carefully sourcing and crafting each element of the product to create something harmonious and natural. That means aging their own grass-grazed milk, using organic and sustainable ingredients elsewhere and making all of their ice cream adornments (jams, crumbles, etc.) themselves. And none of the funny stuff (gums, stabilizers) either.

These kinds of things can seem like white noise at this point, but they're backed up by some pretty delicious product. We picked up some Dark Chocolate Paso Brittle and Salted Caramel Chip from Forager's in DUMBO (one of the few stores currently carrying the ice cream) and enjoyed both. The chocolate was rich and not overly sweet, punctuated by little bursts of toffee flavor from the brittle. The caramel flavor was markedly sweeter, but hints of salinity could be detected, especially in a spoonful with an abundance of the chips.

McC's—as the pros call it—can be procured at Forager’s City Grocer (both Chelsea and DUMBO locations) and Murray's Cheese. We paid $9.99 a pint in Brooklyn; it goes for $12.99 at Murray's. What a steal!