Heavenly Ice Cream in Seaside, Florida. Couldn't have picked a more fitting name.



Those who know me are aware of my love complete and utter obsession for ice cream. And not just during summer. So, when temperatures did this stuff last week during my stay in Seagrove/Seaside, Florida, I set out on a mission to find an ice cream store. Preferably a gelato shop. Or both.

At the time, it seemed like a great idea to take a short stroll around Seaside and admire all the adorable pastel colored homes and quaint streets. After about ten minutes of walking around, though, my smile started to fade and my desire to photograph waned considerably. It was H-O-T. I needed ice cream, and I needed it STAT.

Lo and behold, a blue awning became visible though the humid haze. I wiped my sweaty brow and tried to make out the name — did it say Heavenly ICE CREAM?! Oh, my. It’s remarkable how fast I can move when dessert is involved.

Once inside, I fought the urge to throw myself on the display counter’s cool glass. The air conditioning was cranked on full blast, and it was deliciously cold inside. Look at all of those flavors! And was that gelato I spied? Yes, yes it was.


So many flavors...



I immediately decided on pistachio, and you’ll just have to take my word for how amazing it was. Real, pistachio ice cream with actual chunks of nut and real pistachio flavor. It was green, so a touch of food coloring had been added, but whatever, the taste was pure heaven. Sadly, I have no photos to document the scoop huge overflowing cup I ordered…I was too busy wolfing it down to work my camera. Next time!

I did, however, manage to take a photo of the shop itself, which was very cute. It had a whole vintage ice cream store theme going on, which I find so appealing. I find that an ice cream shop’s decor really adds to the whole experience and somehow makes the ice cream taste even better. Crazy? Try ordering a sundae in an old fashioned ice cream parlor and a sundae in a Baskin Robbins shop. See which sundae is more satisfying — trust me, I’ve tried this!



I love how all the bottles are arranged



So there you have it! You can find Heavenly Ice Cream in the Shops at Ruskin in Seaside.

Photos: Jenny Bengen-Albert