Surprisingly, considering how many people love ice cream that there hasn’t been a shop that aims to have the best ice cream sandwich in America. Jimmy Shamieh set about to change this with C.R.E.A.M. which he started in Berkeley, California, with an offshoot that just opened in Aventura, 18719 Biscayne Boulevard (T.786-657-7905). The ice cream sandwich, he said, is “about rediscovering the inner child in you”. They’re delicious, fun to create and eat, and did indeed remind me of my childhood. And while on the subject of ice cream, wait until you read about Coop’s MicroCreamery hot fudge topping.
What makes it so special? It’s a given that the ice cream has to be delicious — rich in butterfat and creamy. It comes in 20 flavors plus seasonal varieties. Find the usual favorites plus more exotics like caramel cinnamon chill, chocolate chip cookie dough and we be jamm’n. I happen to think that you can judge the quality of ice cream by the vanilla, and here it’s tops — rich vanilla flavor and super creamy, a perfect foil for what comes next. That being said, the salted caramel was tied for first. The secret weapon is the combo of the cookies – baked in the store and served warm with the ice cream, making a double contrast of chewy and creamy and warm and cold. Choose among 17 varieties including vegan/gluten free, gluten free, and even mini cookies.Varieties include snickerdoodle, a fave; CREAMfetti with colored sprinkles; and of course, chewy chocolate chip; If you’re into true excess how about 18 toppings — the works. Shamieh says that a math student at the University of Berkeley figured there were 2500 combinations possible between the cookies, kinds of ice cream and toppings.
The other thing I like about CREAM is the pricing, just $3.99 for the cookie and ice cream of your choosing. You can also buy half a sandwich. One of the principles of the company is affordability so “families can go out and have an ice cream and not have to take a loan out from the bank”.
An interesting story is how CREAM happened to arrive in Florida. It turns out the store’s franchisee is a South Florida high school student. The student, Armando Martinez Stone, discovered the franchise on a trip to California. He then submitted a plan to grow CREAM nationally and internationally to a Distributive Education Clubs of America competition and won. The company is backed by his parents and a group of investors who also operate the store until he completes school. After the one in Aventura, the second Florida store will open in Pembroke Pines by the end of the year.The plan is to have 33 stores throughout Florida in seven years.
But you ice cream lovers, we don’t stop there. At my college reunion I reconnected with a friend who, after a career as an electrical engineer, went on to own and operate two popular retail ice cream shops selling high quality, super premium frozen desserts for restaurants, caterers and other ice cream shops for 25 years. In that time he won Best of Boston 12 times. He then split off the hot fudge production and started a new business just making the toppings. First up was the hot fudge and a vegan edition followed by a caramel companion.