Mad Scientist

oh hey, cameltoe!

If I don't continue to pursue fashion journalism into my old age, food taster/flavor creator always sounds like a pretty bad ass job.  Not only do you get paid for eating ice cream all day long (yes, I'd obviously then be an ice cream creator), but you get to be your own mad scientist and experiment with unusual flavor combos. Can you imagine being the person who dreamt up salted caramel ice cream? Genius. Who am I kidding though; I would be clinically obese within the week. But since we’re on the topic of creating ice cream flavors, I thought I’d lend my two-cents and list some ice cream flavors I’d like to have made into reality:

1. Avocado Ice Cream  (my dad and avid follower of this blog, just told me I've had avocado ice cream at Rosa Mexicano... way to crush my creative spirit, dad!)

2. Animal Crackers, Peach, and Nutella Ice Cream

3. Pretzel, Marshmallow Fluff, Banana, and Peanut Butter Mash Ice Cream

4. PB & J Ice Cream

5. Hummus Ice Cream (what...I'd try it!)

 Step in, il Laboratorio de Gelato. The guy who created this Lower East Side fixture for all things ice cream is named Jon Snyder, but you might also know him as the guy who started Ciao Bella Gelato. After a visit to Italy when he was 19, he was so inspired to bring gelato to NYC that he opened up shop right in SoHo. Thus began his culinary journey in which he sold Ciao Bella in the 1980's (way too soon if you ask me) to open up il Laboratorio; the very laboratory-cum-gelato store where he and his staff test, create, and sell many mouth-watering flavors.

Basil and Honey Lavender gelato

Clearly getting good reviews...

il Laboratorio de Gelato; 188 Ludlow Street (Entrance at East Houston Street); 212-343-9922.

My bff and I initially went to Laboratorio because I had been craving olive oil ice cream. It's one of my favorite ice cream flavors, as I was converted after having it at this place in Woodstock. My secret spot has since closed, so now I'm on the hunt to find the perfect scoop of olive oil ice cream here in the city. I found olive oil ice cream at The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck which was delish but his was olive oil drizzled on top and not actual olive oil ice cream. So we headed to il Laboratorio. Coincidentally, they were out of olive oil ice cream that day but I didn't really mind. I was distracted by flavors like Fuji Apple Sorbet, Grapefruit Hibiscus Sorbert, Granny Smith Sorbet, and Basil, Ginger, and Honey Lavender Gelatos. They even had black or white sesame gelatos to choose from but they were a little too salty for what I was going for. Instead, I ate Honey Lavender complemented by Basil. I have never had basil in my ice cream before so I was a little skeptical, but after having had it, I thought it was even better and more decadent than the lavender.

Polka-dot Club Monaco shirt, high-waisted denim Urban Outfitters shorts, vintage Coach bag, plastic telephone barrette, DIY dip-dye shoes.

Nothing says friends forever like dinosaur rings.

You can't really see it, but I'm wearing that dinosaur ring in the full-length photo of me above.  Shout out to my bff for giving me the ring. I’ve been told that my style is toddler-cum-flower-power-cum-French-schoolgirl, so this is right up with my inner 4 year-old. It’s like I’m constantly being hugged by a rad little dinosaur. I think I’ll call him Oswald!

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