Carmela Ice Cream Serves up All-Natural Flavors

Wide-eyed and eager, I hurried over to the Carmela ice cream booth, whose line had finally dissipated, probably for the first time all evening. "Hello, may I please try a taste of the salted caramel ice cream?" I asked sweetly. 

Perhaps my favorite stop at the South Pasadena Farmer's Market, this insanely delicious ice cream is served up in a simple-looking booth, but one that attracts so many people, you'd think they were the last people on earth to sell the ages-old dessert. 

"Hmmm…I don't really think so. No, no you can't," the young gentleman behind the booth replied with a smirk. I like a jokester, but not when he stands between me and that cold, creamy goodness commonly referred to as "ice cream." We had a laugh and he gave me my taste; and then I proceeded to swoon. "You stay right there," he said intently, "I'm coming back to you." When I finally came-to from my salted-caramel-induced-black-out, I understood where he was going; a long line had once again formed and several other pairs of wide-eyed, eager eyes looked pleadingly at the Carmela man. I should've known the lull wouldn't last long.

To call it "ice cream" is to make a serious understatement. French custard-style, handmade from organic herbs, spices, flowers, nuts and fruits – this stuff has it all. Obtaining all of their ingredients from farmers markets and the very local Silver Lake Farms, each one of Carmela's ice creams are made with whatever is currently in season, ensuring optimum freshness and the most robust flavors. The Mint with Cacao Nibs literally tastes like the herb itself – pure, unprocessed and refreshing. Those with a love for the salty/sweet dichotomy will adore the Salted Caramel and find it difficult not to buy a pint and eat it on the spot.

Carmela Ice Cream founder Jessica Mortarotti named her highly esteemed ice cream business after her grandmother, Carmela, who taught Jessica how to make it herself in the kitchen. In case you hadn't already guessed it, the name Carmela is Italian and literally translated means "garden." Appropriate, considering where the ingredients come from. Typically, Italian ice cream (more commonly referred to as gelato) is rich, dense, and best eaten in small quantities. Carmela Ice Cream, on the other hand, has a lighter texture, making it easier and much more fathomable to consume in large amounts. Good for business, but bad for the hips.

Try one of their many delicious, seasonal flavors such as Brown Sugar Vanilla, Lavender Honey, or Lemon Basil Sorbet.  Or get a little crazy and sink your teeth into an ice cream sandwich. And don't fret over the fact that the Farmers Market only comes around once a week; word on the street is that Carmela will soon be opening up a store in Pasadena, so you can get your fix any day of the week. Until then, find them at the Thursday night Farmers Market. However, be forewarned: you might want to trade those reusable grocery bags in for a wheelbarrow because you're going to want a lot of this stuff.

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