I’ve got the scoop (wink, wink) on a place you should probably try.<\/p>\n
Ice\u00a0cream doesn’t always have the creamiest texture \u2014 and that can be disappointing. But you won’t feel like you’re missing out on velvety goodness at this sweet spot in Vancouver.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mister Artisan Ice Cream<\/a> has exactly what the ultra-creamy treat doctor ordered (in my opinion, at least). I’ve tried several of the ice creameries around town, and the texture of the treat I bought on a recent visit was top notch.\u00a0<\/p>\n My friend and I were wandering around Yaletown after some post-FIFA final fun in July when the “where the heck can we get an immediate ice cream” pangs hit.<\/p>\n Voil\u00e0: Mister Artisan Ice Cream.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ice cream near me: Expanding my sweet horizons in Vancouver<\/p>\n I don’t often go out for ice cream, but when I do, I have a few usual\u00a0stops, including\u00a0Earnest Ice Cream<\/a> (the flavours are so good), as well as anything strictly gelato. (Is that\u00a0snobby?)\u00a0<\/p>\n I also recently tried Little Pisces<\/a>, which was delightfully refreshing and fun, served in a fish waffle cone.\u00a0<\/p>\n I visited the Yaletown Mister Artisan Ice Cream shop at\u00a01141 Mainland St, but there’s another location at\u00a01193 Robson St.<\/p>\n If you’ve never\u00a0had a chance to try it, you’ll be greeted by the behind-the-scenes process without having to\u00a0peek behind any curtains. Mister lays out the churning\u00a0and flash-freezing before your eyes, with a lineup of chic ice cream makers and inventive-looking gadgets spread out in plain view.\u00a0<\/p>\n I ended up grabbing a double Oreo\u00a0ice cream cone, which is a delicious mix of\u00a0Oreo\u00a0ice cream and Oreo cookies. I typically love Oreo-flavoured\u00a0ice cream concoctions, but this one was slightly richer, without adding extra sweetness. Best of all, it was creamy yet thick\u00a0and wasn’t melting quickly, even in the\u00a0summer heat.<\/p>\n Mister’s founders say a special step in the ice cream-making process creates\u00a0that signature texture.\u00a0<\/p>\n Liquid nitrogen: A clever tool for ultra-smooth\u00a0ice cream<\/p>\n Co-owners Michael Lai says\u00a0and Tommy Choi say they discovered the liquid nitrogen ice cream at a restaurant in Los Angeles.\u00a0While it might look like a gimmick to get people through the door, he says it’s a key part of the signature texture.<\/p>\n “We were amazed by how incredibly smooth and creamy the ice cream was; it was unlike anything we had tasted before,” Lai says.\u00a0“At the time, we hadn’t seen anyone using this method in Vancouver, so we thought it would be a great opportunity to open a shop specializing in made-to-order liquid nitrogen ice cream.”\u00a0<\/p>\n “Liquid nitrogen freezes the ice cream base almost instantly, much faster than traditional methods. Because the freezing process is so rapid, there is much less time for large ice crystals to form, resulting in a much smoother and denser texture. Since we make each batch fresh to order, we also don’t need to add preservatives, which allows us to serve a fresher product,” he says.<\/p>\n Mister has expanded its menu to include a\u00a0few new items, including\u00a0ice cream doughnuts and\u00a0floats, “which have been very well received by our customers,” Lai says.\u00a0<\/p>\n Fun flavours to discover, unique treats beyond the cone\u00a0<\/p>\n Aside from Oreo, you’ll find several fun flavours in Mister’s lineup, including\u00a0Cr\u00e8me Br\u00fbl\u00e8e,\u00a0Dark Chocolate,\u00a0Thai Milk Tea,\u00a0Vegan Chocolate,\u00a0Vegan Oat Nog Br\u00fbl\u00e8e, Shortbread, and\u00a0Candy Cane.\u00a0<\/p>\n Most of these classic and unique flavours are also available as ice cream sandwiches, which are also\u00a0amazing.\u00a0<\/p>\n The ice creamery’s\u00a0Facebook page also shows another addition to the sweet lineup: Ube Ice Cream<\/a>. Made with purple yam, it’s described as “mildly sweet and nutty, with delicate hints of vanilla and coconut in every creamy bite.”<\/p>\n