Handel's Ice Cream Finally Scoops In SoCal

Phone: 424-247-8861
Status: Opened last Monday
Formerly found in the cold Mid-West (save a spot in Northern California and Upland), Handel's Ice Cream is now open in Redondo Beach. But what's the big deal, there's still a Pinkberry on every corner, right? Let's put that non-dairy swirled substance aside for a second and talk ice cream. In 1945 Alice Handel opened the first Handel's Ice Cream Shop in Youngstown, OH. It soon became the busiest shop around and, long story short, is now a franchise operation. It's won numerous awards and the Travel Channel named it "One of the Best Ice Creams in the Country." Besides the usual "made fresh daily", Handel's recipes are not something you'd find just anywhere. There's the basics: chocolate, vanilla, strawberry. But then Handel's mixes it up with Caramel Pretzel Crunch, Chocolate Malt, Creamy Coconut Pie, and Cotton Candy.

More interesting are the flavors you have to ask about like, Spouse Like a House (smooth nougat, nuts and caramel) and Buckeye (chocolate swirl, peanut butter Buckeye candy chunks). Oh, and some might be interested in the Heavenly Hash, but it's much more innocent than it sounds. Handel's also has old fashioned sherbet, something you don't find everywhere, and flavors like Pineapple and Champagne edge out the classic Strawberry for attention. There are Hurricanes too - basically a chunky milkshake - whipped up fresh in flavors as varied as the ice creams. Froyo is available for the weight watchers, so there's something for everyone. All in all, with over 100 flavors to choose from, Handel's is worth a taste. Or two. —Daniela Galarza