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.
Nice to see that I'm not the only one who gets the vanilla and chocolate every time I go to Jeni's! ;)
Posted by: Christian | January 12, 2012 at 05:47 PM
Not very adventurous, is he?
Ah well, those are still delicious flavors even if they aren't the most interesting ones Jeni serves.
Posted by: Anye | January 13, 2012 at 10:09 AM
Sorry Joe. I ate all of the Black Forest...
Posted by: Roland | January 13, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Very non-partisan flavors
Posted by: Emily | January 13, 2012 at 09:51 PM
and I hope you took the money Jeni! xx : )
Posted by: Clare Cassar | January 14, 2012 at 02:22 PM
Actually, vanilla is the most difficult of all flavors of ice cream/frozen custard to make. You cannot hide anything in it. You taste the quality of all the ingredients, where the vanilla is from, if it's real or artificial, how it was made and when it was made. It's the standard by which all ice creams/frozen custard is judged by.
I should know as my family has been making frozen custard since 1932 in Lafayette, IN.
Jeni's is great tho, and I enjoy visiting when in Columbus.
Keep up the good work!!!
Posted by: Rick Lodde | January 22, 2012 at 06:00 PM
Thanks for the comment and compliment, Rick, and go Boilermakers.
Posted by: Aaron | January 23, 2012 at 09:18 AM