ba-nom-a-nom Watermelon “soft serve”: Specializing in “soft serve frozen fruit,” Ba-nom-a-nom is a Denver-based ice cream truck serving dairy-free, 100% fruit soft serve that falls somewhere in between sorbet and Italian ice. The soft serve has a whipped yet smooth crystallized texture. It tasted like fresh watermelon, which is exactly what it was. No added sugar. I was surprised at the texture since I didn’t know it wasn’t traditional soft serve, but it was a refreshing treat nonetheless. Pricy ($5) but decently generous. 3.5/5.0
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Pineapple Express Passionfruit Mango softserve: Another winner from Chelsea Market-based vendor Pineapple Express. This seasonal summer treat (sorry I’m several months behind on reviews) had a great tart flavor. Cleansing sharpness. Also the perfect amount that I want to eat, though pricy at its size ($2). 4.0/5.0
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Tartine Manufactory Blood orange sorbet and cardamom soft serve: Tartine Manufactory closes its bakery section, including soft serve, for dinner service, but if you ask nicely, they will serve it (as I found out last night). This swirl of blood orange and cardamom was one of the best things I ate all year, with potently spiced cardamom and sharp citrus. The texture was smooth and consistent. Often, independent flavors in swirled soft serve compete and don’t quite work in harmony, but this unexpected combination was both balanced and even better with one a... (read more) 4.5/5.0
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Uji Time Tofu Soft Serve: This flavor has eluded me for several months. I sampled the tofu the first time I ever came to this Japanese ice cream shop in Berkeley and loved it but opted for the classic black sesame for my first cup. Ever subsequent time I went back to Uji, the tofu was sold out. Finally, a few months ago, I was able to get it, but this time, the texture had degraded a bit, with the soft serve being uncharacteristically icy. Still, the soy milk flavor is excellent and easily identifiable to anyone ... (read more) 3.0/5.0
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Seed + Mill Tahini Goats Milk Softserve: Mildly flavored nutty soft serve from Seed + Mill, a small stand in the middle of Chelsea Market. Goats milk gives it a slight tang. A unique offering. Just a tad icy. 4.0/5.0
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Pineapple Express Pineapple soft serve: Right in the middle of the ultra-touristy (and, thus, overly-stressful) Chelsea Market is a little oasis in the form of Pineapple Express, a stand/hut wrapped in bamboo sticks and straw trim, decorated with hanging pineapple-shaped Christmas lights. Here, they serve a variety of tropical treats, from fresh coconut juice to full-on ice cream sundaes. The price tag is still entirely Chelsea Market (get ready to dish out $7 for Dole Whip), or you can opt for the minuscule soft serve cone, bar... (read more) 4.5/5.0
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