Fosselman’s Ice Cream

Posted by Edmund in Ice Cream & Gelato, Los Angeles | 0 comments

Fosselman’s Ice Cream
$2.50-$4.50 for 1-3 scoops

1824 West Main Street
Alhambra, CA 91801-1897

My absolute favorite dessert is ice cream. Unfortunately, though, Los Angeles isn’t the best place to find great ice cream, at least in my experience. So it’s really a treat when you find a special ice cream place like Fosselman’s in Alhambra. Fosselman’s claim to fame is its special ingredient, butterfat. Unlike most traditional ice cream, Fosselman’s ice cream has a 16% butterfat content which gives it a texture and taste unlike any you’ll taste anywhere else.

In general, the texture is fantastic, as the ice cream is so rich and so creamy due to the high butterfat content that it is almost impossible for it not to be good. This is about the smoothest, creamiest traditional American-style ice cream that you can imagine. At the same time, though, beware, because that can also be its greatest weakness, too, since the 16% butterfat gives the ice cream an incredibly buttery overtone that can be very dissatisfying to some. When I took my father and brother to Fosselman’s, for example, they could not even finish their simple vanilla ice cream because it tasted so cloyingly rich to them. I, in contrast, took advantage of the situation to almost immediately scoop up all the extra ice cream (Hey, one man’s loss is another man’s gain, right?). I’m inclined to say that, judging by the popularity of the place, most will be more like me, but this ice cream is still very much a hit or miss affair, and if you’re not fond of buttery  flavors, you should probably avoid it.

The one weak link to note is in the flavors. First, there’s quite a large selection of about 30 flavors and 8 sherbets, but that still pales in comparison to some other places. Moreover, most of the flavors are very traditional, with only a few that really break from what you would find in a typical ice cream parlor, though there are some oddities on the menu at times (like Taro). Finally, the flavors aren’t always perfect, especially since the buttery flavor of the ice cream may actually mask or conflict with the flavors. Still, in general the flavors do come through, and Fosselman’s is fond of using actual chunks of fruits, nuts, and chocolate in its ice cream.

In conclusion, then, Fosselman’s may not be ideal for all, but it’s one of the best American-style ice creams I’ve had in my life. Rich, creamy, and FATTY.

Some flavors I’ve had:

1. Vanilla: This is the traditional American flavor, and boy does Fosselman’s get it right. At first, the vanilla flavor seemed a bit weak, largely because the creamy milkiness seemed to cover it up. But as you savor it, you really see it pop out, and it suits the rich, butter flavor of the ice cream especially well. 4.5/5.0
2. Strawberry: I’m not a big strawberry fan, but even so, this was a bit of a downer in comparison to the other flavors, largely because it has a weird, tangy, strawberry aftertaste. Still, the flavor is bold, and strawberry chunks are even included in the ice cream. I just don’t know how think the fruity tanginess really suits the extreme richness of the ice cream so well. 2.0/5.0
3. Dutch Chocolate: This was actually quite good for chocolate, though the flavor could have been stronger. It just seemed that, especially in comparison to the pistachio and strawberry, the chocolate flavor was a bit weaker. For the chocolatiness that it did have, though, this was an especially rich, smooth, and still quite flavorful chocolate. 3.5/5.0
4. Pistachio: This is the good stuff, and hands down the best flavor I tried today. It has the same great richness of the other flavors, but the pistachio really adds a new dimension. It’s well-integrated into the ice cream, too, and there are even some pistachio pieces in there which make for a really nice nut crunch. Fantastic. 4.5/5.0

Taste/Flavor: 4.1/5.0
Texture: 4.5/5.0
Selection/Variety: 3.0/5.0
Overall Score: 4.1/5.0