Salty Caramel

Jeni's Splendid Wedding Parlor

  Above: Ty and Lauren Debevoise—the first couple to tie the knot in one of our shops.

2011 was a year of firsts at Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, including Jeni's debut book, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home, making the best-seller lists of The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

But Dec. 30 marked another significant milestone in the history of Jeni's—the first-ever wedding ceremony held in one of our scoop shops.

Just after 4 that afternoon in the back of our Short North shop, Lauren Flaum and Ty Debevoise of Columbus exchanged vows in front of a handful of beaming friends and family.

A few minutes later, with the happy couple having been pronounced husband and wife, cones of ice cream were raised and toasts were made.

Lauren, who met Ty by chance nearly three years ago in a Columbus bar, said the couple chose Jeni's "because we spend a lot of time here.  We're the kind of people who go out for dinner, but come here for ice cream and get too full to go to dinner."

Lauren added that she and Ty also knew they "didn't want have a traditional wedding.  We wanted a place that worked logistically and was going to be fun for everybody.  This place always looks great, it's intimate, and it's already decorated really minimally, which we like. It's was great."

Above: Flowers, rings, license—ingredients for a sweet little wedding in the Short North shop.

Above: Lauren Flaum and Ty Debevoise preparing for their big day in the back of  our Short North shop, a.k.a. Jeni's Splendid Wedding Chapel.

Above: Just pronounced husband and wife—Ty and Lauren Debevoise.

Above: After the wedding, a dance for two spirited young revelers.

Above: Lauren and Ty moments before an ice cream toast.

Above: Ty and Lauren (in the shadow of Jeni at work making ice cream macaroon sandwiches) share a celebratory sugar cone topped with Pistachio & Honey and Wildberry Lavender ice creams.

 

Vice President Joe Biden Visits Jeni's in the North Market

Above: Jeni Britton Bauer, in the North Market (where she began making ice cream 16 years ago), talks ice cream with Vice President Joe Biden and Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman.

It wasn't exactly business as usual this afternoon at Columbus' North Market, where Jeni began making ice cream from scratch in 1996.

Just after 3:30 Vice President Joe Biden, in Columbus to address the high cost of college tuition, as well as audiences at two other speaking engagements, stopped by during a break for refreshments.

Accompanied by a small army of Secret Service members and Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman and his entourage, Biden strolled the market, shook hands and said hello to any and all. After a stop for coffee at A Touch of Earth and chats with several merchants, V.P. Biden and company made their way to Jeni's.

As they leaned on the counter and peered into the dipping cabinets, Mayor Coleman, no stranger to Jeni's, said to Mr. Biden, "This is the best ice cream. I'll put this ice cream up against any ice cream in the country."

"Do you have chocolate chip," Vice President Biden asked Jeni.

"No, you're in the wrong place for chocolate chip," said Jeni and laughed.

"Oh. Well, okay, then how about vanilla?"

Clearly the Vice President was in for a quick Cliffs Notes lesson on the finer points of the new American ice cream movement.

Jeni suggested Salty Caramel.

Turns out the Vice President isn't a fan of caramel in general.

In the end Jeni served Mr. Biden a scoop of Dark Chocolate and Ugandan Vanilla Bean in a waffle cone and Mayor Coleman a scoop of Ugandan Vanilla Bean in a cup.

Despite the lack of chocolate chip on the menu, the Vice President seemed more than pleased with his ice cream. "That is good," he said, then listened intently as Jeni answered his questions about how she imports free-trade vanilla beans direct from Ndali Estate in Uganda and other elements that set her made-from-scratch ice cream apart.

As Jeni and the Vice President spoke, Mayor Coleman quickly protested when Mr. Biden presented the cash to cover the duo's ice cream tab, but Mr. Biden insisted: "No, no, you got the coffee back there. I've got this."

Above: Jeni talks Ugandan Vanilla Bean ice cream and more with Vice President Joe Biden and Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman in Columbus' North Market. 

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams' Big Legs Beck: Pelotonia Ridden and Recapped

Approximately 10 minutes into the big ride and Big Legs Beck's eyes have yet to open. Big Legs always requires a few miles to wake up during early morning rides.  Photo by Aiko Yonamine.

I've ridden a lot of charity rides and "centuries" over the years, but as Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams' one-man Pelotonia team, I can't say I've ever had as much fun as I did Saturday during my maiden 102-mile Pelotonia ramble from Columbus to Athens.

The variety of riders, the great food, the course, the weather, the scenery, the support of people all along the route, the Snow Cone machine (yes!), and of course the Pelotonia organization itself and its cause made the outing a wonderful experience start to finish.

Here now, a recap of the ride:

6 a.m.

 The sun hasn't completely risen?  I don't usually see 6 a.m. on Saturdays.  This is special.  Eat a hard-boiled egg and drink a grocery-store smoothie, flip on bike lights, then pedal to the start at Chemical Abstracts Services.

6:25 a.m.

Holy peloton. There are about 4,000-odd cyclists in the starting chute that leads to the course and thousands of onlookers and supporters.  All around are family members and friends with signs, snapping pictures, hugging people, and offering words of encouragement.  We riders are spaced out in "fast", "steady", and "casual" packs.  I probably ought to move to steady, but casual looks like a lot more fun this morning.

7 a.m.

The fast pack leaves the gate and makes its way around the OSU campus and down South High Street, then the steadys, then the casuals.  I'm used to riding with people who like to burn as many calories as possible and get to where we want to go pretty much as swiftly as possible.  The weather's beautiful today and I'm in no hurry to get to Athens so I've decided I'm going to max out my time on the route and take it all in.

Jeni's Splendid Pelotonia Entrant Big Legs Beck Rides Again

Above: Training for Pelatonia any which way I can at all hours of the day.  Whatever I need to do, whenever I need to do it, I try to do it by bike, including selling a bike I was riding around the recent Summer Flea in the Short North.  (Said bike was sold to a man named Billy.)

Pelatonia, how did you sneak up on me?  Can Aug. 19-21 already be looking me straight in the face?

I'm glad I've been running errands by bike all over central Ohio and working in a few rural 70-milers (on a proper road bike) to teach the legs a lesson or two.

Yes, "Big Legs Beck" is the name the people at Jeni's gave me and I'm trying to make the nickname stick and live up to that lofty moniker by cranking out the big miles.

I did some hardcore Pelatonia training during the weekend, including 30-ish mile thrift store tour to replenish my stock of vintage T-shirts.  (Gotta have something to sell Oct. 9 at the Fall Flea, which again will include Jeni's Mobile Dipping Division.)

My thrift circuit rider is a second-hand, '90s Gary Fisher Aquila mountain bike outfitted with a rear rack and a front basket, fenders, lights, bottle cages, asphalt-friendly slicks, and bungee cords.  Original color scheme: silver and black.  An after-market powder coat job rendered it light gold, hence the nickname downtown messengers gave it years ago: The Goldwing. 

I obey all traffic laws, but to max out my time on the bike I ride as hard as I possibly can to each store.

On Saturday, I trained for Pelotonia by riding from Grandview to the Ohio Thrift at S. High and I-270, barreled over to the Ohio Thrift near Cooper Stadium, then rode dead west into the sun to do a little more sport shopping at the Volunteers of America near the neighborhood of New Rome.

Thirty-some miles of city riding on a bike that, loaded down, feels like it weighs as much as one of Jeni's Mobile Dipping Division's ice cream carts, I swear wears me out as much as any 70- to 80-mile rural route ride.

Pelotonia, I hear you calling and I think I'm ready for you.

Thanks, Goldwing.Above: Big Legs Beck's "Goldwing" in front of Jeni's headquarters in Grandview Heights.  The all-around town Pelotonia trainer has served its purpose.  On Saturday, the day of the 100-mile Columbus-to-Athens leg of the cancer research fundraising/awareness ride, Big Legs plans to pedal something a tad more light, swift, and 100-mile friendly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeni's Splendid East Nashville, Tennessee Ice Cream Social!

(East Nashville, TN)--Your humble reporter, as 10:30 p.m. local time approaches, is staring at a stupendous sight: a line of men, women, and children (and more than a few dogs) snaking far beyond what's seen in the photo above, which was snapped just after doors opened this evening for a free ice cream social at 1892 Eastland Avenue.

The good people of Nashville (and a few as far away as 90 minutes from the new shop's doors), began forming the line at 7 at the site of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams' first scoop shop outside Ohio state lines.  It's 9:40 or so now and the line isn't exactly dwindling.

"It's totally worth the wait!", "This is like an ice cream version of Bonnaroo!", and "I can't believe this!" have been only a few of the choice comments overheard in the queue, which a few moments ago included a cameraman from one of the local TV news teams.

Jeni Britton Bauer, who's been shaking hands and saying hellos, said, "This is just surreal.  What's really been cool is meeting so many people who live in Nashville who used to live in Ohio.  I've met a lot of people who've been telling all their friends about us for years and now they're all in line.  It's so great.  I can't believe it."

Thanks to everyone from Nashville and beyond for spending tonight with Jeni and the staff.  And thanks a million to the great East Nashville neigborhood for the warm welcome.  What a fantastic day (and night) it's been.  Oh, and doors open at 11 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. (or whenever the line dies down) tomorrow!

Jeni Britton Bauer (right) talking with fans--in front of a display that features her new cookbook, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home--during the east Nashville free ice cream social.

 

The interior of Jeni's first scoop shop outside Ohio state lines: 1892 Eastland Avenue, East Nashville, TN.

 

THE ROVING REPORTER: Lovett Fuels With Jeni's Ice Cream, Treats LC With Tunes

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Man on left: sells Jeni's Ice Creams and listens to "If I Had a Boat"; man on right: eats Jeni's Ice Creams and sings "If I Had a Boat".

Well, Jeni's Mobile Dipping Division made its maiden foray into the LC Pavilion Wednesday evening and we're proud to report that the journey was a successful—and downright enjoyable one. Many a concertgoer sampled the goods and we were able to donate a portion of the proceeds to the Andy "Andyman" Davis Memorial Fund.

Oh, and one notable concertgiver was able to sample the goods, as well. Following a late-afternoon soundcheck, Lyle Lovett moseyed from the stage to the lobby for a little pre-show nourishment in the form of a double shot of Salty Caramel atop a sugar cone.

Scooper R.J. Lemrye said, "He tried to pay me for it but I said, 'No way. I'm getting to hear you play for free. Don't worry about it.' So, then he gave us a twenty to donate to the Andyman Fund. He just seemed really genuine and he said he was really happy to be in Columbus again—and he seemed genuine when he said it."

Cheers to you, Mr. Lovett, and cheers to everyone who turned out for the show and spent some time with the Mobile Dipping Division!

THE ROVING REPORTER: Less Talk More Rock

Rachel Annarino, kitchen manager, chopping mint and smiling all the way.

Here at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams we’re fortunate enough to enjoy steady business during the weeks of every season. But my, oh, my, everyone who loves a cone of Backyard Mint or Strawberry Buttermilk ought to sneak a peak at the kitchen and shipping departments kicking out the jams during this the first unofficial week of Jeni’s busiest time: summer.

THE ROVING REPORTER: When waiting in a long line is worth it - Trefzger's Bakery

Trefzger's storefront.

These Bakeshop flavors are an homage to the bakeries of my youth. One in particular stands out - Trefzger’s in Peoria Illinois. They have been located in a small storefront on Prospect Road since 1861. Every time I go back to Illinois for a visit (several times each year), I have to have their Maple Danish Coffee Cake and Thumbprint Cookies. Every Trefzger's customer has his or her favorite. I've tried other baked goods through the years and loved them all, but my favorites remain the little thumbprint cookies with nutty shortbread crust and a shiny dollop of pastel icing in the middle and the maple iced coffee cakes whose flaky layers remind me of a strudel.

THE ROVING REPORTER: How to care for your olive wood ice cream paddle

For those of you who ordered, or are planning on ordering, our Flavors of Norway collection, you might be wondering how to keep your olive wood ice cream paddle good as new. The tag instructs you to hand wash, but here are some more easy care instructions:

• Always hand wash

• After washing, dry completely.

• Rub with olive oil, peanut oil, or sunflower oil about once a month - and don't bother with the expensive stuff. The cheapest will do just fine.

That's it! And, you can also add a paddle to any collection or your own mix of ice creams. Neat.