Jeni’s Ice Cream Comes to Larchmont; Jamba Juice Now Open

Just in time for warmer weather, Jeni’s Ice Cream is opening on Larchmont, in the former Z Pizza space at 123 N Larchmont Blvd.

Jeni’s Ice Cream may be new to our neighborhood, but it’s not new to LA or to the artisanal ice cream world.  The Larchmont location follows the opening of two other Los Angeles locations, one in Los Feliz on Hillhurst Avenue, and the other on Rose Avenue in Venice.

Founded by Jeni Britton Bauer in 2002, with a vision to control the whole supply chain of ingredients to make the best quality ice cream that also supports the people who provide the raw ingredients, as well as the people who serve it, according to her company’s website. Jeni’s owns and operates twenty-five scoop shops in the South and midwest, from their base in Columbus, Ohio.

Britton, who won a 2012 James Beard Award for her cookbook “Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home,” has spent years perfecting the texture of the ice cream so it scoops perfectly and feels “voluptous” in your mouth, according to an interview in Food and Wine magazine.

“Jeni’s uniquely creamy base relies on high-quality milk, specifically the proteins and rich butterfat from grass-pastured Ohio cows. She flavors her ice creams with hand-selected, often local ingredients, and even makes sure every pint is hand-packed,” reported Food and Wine Magazine.

So how do they do that outside of Columbus?  According to their website, “We build community wherever we go, from near our kitchen in Columbus, to the cities across the country where we have scoop shops.”

Jeni’s is a Certified B Corporation – a benefit corporation– approved by the international nonprofit B Lab as a company that meets rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Jeni’s boasts that it uses  Direct Trade ingredients, from companies that share their values, and employs a diverse team of people, works with women- and minority-owned businesses as an important part of their company culture.

“We are absolutely devoted to making better ice creams and bringing people together…We like to make people feel good,” is the company’s mission. Sounds delicious!

In other local eatery news, Jamba Juice is back on Larchmont at 122 N Larchmont, taking over the former Lette Macaroons bakery. They opened last Friday, according to staff, and are planing an opening celebration in the next few weeks.