Steve Jobs once said: “If you want to make everyone happy, don’t be a leader – sell ice cream.” Lucky for us, local entrepreneurs have taken that advice to heart.
Whether you’re a minimalist, bury your scoop under a mountain of toppings, or are looking for an organic, non-dairy, gluten-free frozen treat, the independent ice cream market has something that’s sure to hit the spot.
Here’s the scoop on three of London’s best.
The London Ice Cream Company
The London Ice Cream Company has been making ice cream “the way it used to be” since 1995.
That means you won’t find ice milk or frozen desserts on the menu. London Ice Cream Company makes ice cream – right on the premises – using a process called batch pasteurization.
There are over 120 unique flavours in rotation, with top sellers including Moosetracks, Happy Birthday, Peanut Butter Mudpuddle, and Acadian Vanilla.
London Ice Cream is available by the scoop at their location near Baseline and Wharncliffe, or you can pick up a 2L bucket at select food retailers in London, Ingersoll and Mt. Brydges.
Haven’s Creamery
Located off Richmond Row at Piccadilly, Haven’s Creamery is the place to go for ice cream lovers in search of a simpler approach.
Haven’s makes ice cream your grandmother would recognize, beginning with fresh real cream from Hewitt’s Dairy. Hand crafted on site using a batch-by-batch approach, the result is a smooth, melt-in-your-mouth experience.
Haven’s takes a traditional approach to flavours, with only 12 on offer – including three monthly features and a dairy-free sorbet. Scoops come in three sizes, and are served in cups or house-made waffle cones. There are no additional mix-ins or toppings, but with this much pure goodness, there’s no need.
Roli Poli Ice Cream
Looking for something a little different? Then head to the corner of Richmond and Dufferin where you’ll find Roli Poli, London’s original hand rolled ice cream shop.
What does that mean, you ask? At Roli Poli, your ice cream is made while you wait – hand-rolled on a frozen metal pan for each individual customer. It’s a technique owner Karri Egan discovered in Thailand and decided to bring to Canada.
Beginning with a plain ice cream, non-fat yogurt, or coconut milk base, Roli Poli offers a selection of tantalizing flavor combinations created by adding fresh mix-ins.
In the mood for a more traditional scoop? Roli Poli also makes small batch ice creams and dairy-free sorbets in a variety of lip-smacking flavours.
This post is an edited and updated version of a story first published in EatDrink magazine in 2017.