May 16, 2006
We Scream for Amy's
Perusing the dessert menu, we’re always a bit skeptical when we come across something such as “ice cream (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry)” or some permutation thereof. If nothing else seems appealing, and we’d like a bit of ice cream, then we take the chance. If we’re lucky, we’ll get some good local stuff from Thomas Sweet or Gifford’s. Or on the corporate side of things, we’ll likewise feel honored to scarf down some Haagen-Dazs, particularly any rare sightings of their Belgian chocolate flavor.
But we really get excited when a local restaurant has recognized the greatness of some other state’s creamy confection, as is the case with Austin Grill, which has imported the great Amy’s Ice Creams brand of ice cream from its home in Austin, Texas (with locations in Houston and San Antonio). This stuff is so homegrown, in fact, that though this Dallas-bred DCist had never had the occasion to sample Amy's until settling in Washington. Of course, back when we knew all the words to "Deep in the Heart of Texas", our minds were clouded by the alleged merit of Blue Bell, which was the only thing around to fill the great ice cream void in North Texas.
Though we occasionally enjoy a pollo guisado taco or the guacamole at Austin Grill, we’re not by any means holding it up as a paragon of fine dining or even excellent Tex-Mex. But Austin Grill gets major points for bringing Amy’s ice cream to the East Coast (notwithstanding the fact that Austin Grill owner Rob Wilder, a shareholder in Amy's, is obviously beneficial to Mr. Wilder), thereby augmenting Amy's national profile as one of the best homegrown ice creams in the country.
Amy’s chocolate and Mexican vanilla are the best standard ice cream renditions of those flavors that we've ever had. The richness of the vanilla and the surprising complexity of the chocolate are further enhanced by the creaminess that can only result from 14 percent butterfat. And the coconut is absolutely ambrosial. The cinnamon and mint chocolate chip also stand out as original takes on classic favorites.
We love this stuff so much that we wish Austin Grill would conceal a mini-scoop shop behind the hostess stand so that we could just roll in for a quick hit and go on our merry way.
Sadly, Austin Grill seems to be the only local purveyor of Amy's Ice Cream, and it doesn't seem to be available in pints. If, however, you're aware of any other area Amy's Ice Creams sightings, then feel free to let us know in the comments.
Austin Grill, locations in Virginia, Maryland, and D.C.
Photo via Flickr by our friends over at SFist.
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I'd take Blue Bell over any incarnation available up here in the Northeast. What kind of ice cream has "turkey" in the name?
I'll take this opportunity to recommend my personal favorite: the coconut with some of Austin Grill's excellent dark chocolate sauce. Can't be beat.
Blue Bell is great stuff - my fave is the Homemade Vanilla. Eggy, salty... yum! I sure wish it was sold up here. I wonder how far away the closest outlet is... Southern VA maybe?
Great... now I can't get their TV commercial jingle out of my head, "We eat all we can, and we sell the rest... Blue Bell's the best ice cream in the country..."
Hooray for Amy's. As a long-time Austinite, I can remember back when Amy's job application consisted of a brown paper bag that applicants were required to design. All you had to do was come up with something funky and creative and you were in.
And don't forget about the marble cows in the arboretum!
Blue Bell...sooo gooood!!
(sing with me) blue bell, the best ice cream in the country...or is it kuntry?
Good God Blue Bell is good. Was just back in the Lone Star State and hit up the Tom THumb for some as quickly as possible. I fancy the natural vanilla bean.
Amy's Mexican Vanilla is my favorite but like another foodstuff from Mexico it gives me the toots.
Anybody try out the new Hershey's ice cream parlor by McPherson yet?
When I was in college in Tallahassee, I dated a girl who made me drive all over damn North Florida looking for Blue Bell.
It was so worth it.
The ice cream was good too.
Blue Bell, really? No way! First off all, if you wanna talk good ice cream on a semi-national level...let's break out Breyer's...while Blue Bell is filled with gums and non-natural ingredients that would make anyone but a chemist stumble through, Breyer's consists of words you learned in elementary school. Blue Bell es no bueno! I dont care how attached to you are to the 'Blue Bell tastes just like the good, old days.' As for the real point of this story, thanks so much for the Amy's LOVE. As a 6 year Austin veteran, Amy's was always a place to find the goods, as long as you didn't mind a line, cuz everyone else in town knows the deal as well. Have yet to go to the Austin Grill, but now that I know they've got Amy's I'll have to hit it up. Good TEX-MEX in DC you say? How 'bout La Loma on Mass Ave NE, it may not be Guero's on South Congress, but it's damn good, and they've got Tecate too. much love to Austin, im out.
Although Amy's may taste good it seems they have a customer relations problem which was documented here by the Consumerist http://www.consumerist.com/consumer/amys-ice-cream/
I couldn't get very far into that Consumerist page 'cause it seems more like they have their own panties in a twist than that Amy's has actually presented a problem ($10 minimum for credit charges? Quelle horreur!).
I take severe umbrage at the use of "alleged" in the original post. Gimme a half gallon of Blue Bell over a pint of Ben and Jerry's any day.
As for Breyer's, they're not as special as they used to be. The "natural vanilla" in my freezer (I had a root beer float jones) contains both "natural guar gum" and "natural carob bean gum," although it does omit the carrageenan mocked all those years ago in Breyer's commercials. Breyer's also has a line that omits the "all natural" on the label, and the ingredients of one I looked at in Safeway the other day included the nefarious seaweed extract.
The Austin Grill's original owner also owned a share of Amy's. From an Austin Chronicle profile: "[Austin Grill] was founded by an ex-Austinite named Rob Wilder, better known for his partnership with Amy Miller and their collaboration on Amy's Ice Cream back in 1985." So, I suspect that's why you don't see Amy's anywhere but AG. Which, from my perspective is fine. Amy's is way too sweet...and, of course, Austin Grill really sucks now!
As I mentioned the other day, the best quality ice cream store in the Washington area, in my opinion, is Lazy Sundae in Clarendon. It's made right there in the store and it's incredibly rich. I don't see how ice cream shipped across the country could be as good.
(notwithstanding the fact that Austin Grill owner Rob Wilder, a shareholder in Amy's, is obviously beneficial to Mr. Wilder)
What?
Can I get some Graeters love in here? Where are the Ohioans... Graeters is the best ice cream on the planet.