Brooklyn's Small Batch Ice Cream Truck Van Leeuwen Rolls into Venice Tomorrow

Manhattan's hipster, family-owned ice cream operation Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream (which has absolutely exploded in the last couple of years) is introducing its first west coast vehicle to Venice tomorrow, a year and a half since brothers Ben and Pete Van Leeuwen first considered a Southern California presence. They're still deciding the exact location and will Tweet/Instagram whereabouts tomorrow.

While many local ice creameries thrive on crazy flavors and unusual toppings, Van Leeuwen is a minimalist operation dedicated to top quality ingredients and simple flavors made in small batches. For example, their inaugural menu has a Michel Cluizel 99% Infini Noir chocolate ice cream, a barrel-aged bourbon and Tahitian vanilla, a Sicilian pistachio (supposedly made with hand picked nuts), and four vegan flavors including a roasted banana nut and a peanut butter chocolate chunk. The dairy-free ice creams are built from a coconut and cashew milk base with raw coconut butter, coconut oil and organic sugar. In general, for all flavors, Van Leeuwen avoids stabilizers, fillers, and "natural flavors."

As compared to other high quality ice cream shops like Sweet Rose Creamery which charges $3.75 for one scoop, a regular cup or cone of Van Leeuwen ice cream runs $5.50, with vegan flavors an additional 50-cents. So, this stuff is anything but cheap.

While Van Leeuwen sells pints all over the east coast, one of its first local accounts is with the Oaks Gourmet Market in Hollywood.
· Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream Considers Los Angeles [~ELA~]