Sweet Rose Creamery, the much anticipated ice cream parlor operated by Rustic Canyon and Huckleberry Cafe duo Josh Loeb & Zoe Nathan, opened today in the Brentwood Country Mart.
Sweet Rose is a collaboration between Loeb, Nathan and Shiho Yoshikawa, a pastry chef from northern California who helped launch Huckleberry. Twelve flavors were on offer today, including salted caramel, fresh mint with homemade chocolate chips, ginger and strawberry. The creamery has a classic ice cream parlor feel and has an emphasis on fresh ingredients. Even the cones are made in house.
Yoshikawa said that they looked to create "something that you want to eat every day. A place that takes you back, but is still modern." She has been working on the flavors since last summer and moved to Los Angeles just before New Year's Eve to work on Sweet Rose full time. Yoshikawa has always wanted to make ice cream and had talked about it with Nathan and Loeb when she helped open Huckleberry.
Loeb and Nathan both grew up on the Westside and they felt that the neighborhood has tons of food lovers yet was underserved as there was no great place to get ice cream. They wanted their ice cream parlor to use only good, natural ingredients. "Everything that we can get from the Farmer's Market, comes from the Farmer's Market, " Loeb said. Strawberries and fresh mint are some of the ingredients from the Santa Monica farmers market currently featured on the menu and they are excited for the summer fruits to arrive.
During the month of May, the hours will be Wednesday - Sunday 12 Noon to 9 pm. In June they may expand to a 6th day and could operate 7 days a week later in the summer. As Loeb put it, "we want to serve the community," so hours will be adjusted to reflect demand.
Loeb grew up going to Reddi Chick, the chicken basket restaurant in the Brentwood Country Mart, and has been there countless times so they feel right at home opening in the Country Mart. (I have also eaten countless chicken baskets there - good stuff.)
The ice cream is made fresh daily and over time there will likely be a core six flavors in the rotation, while the other six vary based on season and what tastes good. In addition to the fresh ingredients in the ice cream, there are a variety of toppings such as homemade marshmallows, chocolate brownie bites, pecan brittle and candied ginger.
If opening day is any reflection, expect lines of eager Santa Monica & Westside folks, students from the nearby Archer School, and families out for their ice cream fix. Prepare for long lines and the possibility that some flavors are sold out, as Sweet Rose Creamery is anything but a secret in the neighborhood.
Sweet Rose Creamery is located in the Brentwood Country Mart, 225 26th St, Santa Monica. Phone: (310) 260-CONE. Website: www.sweetrosecreamery.com
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