I have always enjoyed baked goods over ice cream. It’s just a personal preference. Having a cone on a hot day is pleasant, but give me a warm-out-of-the-oven chocolate chip cookie, and I’ll be your best friend.

That being said, I want to share the well kept LA secret of the best Ice Cream Parlor on the planet.

it’s called Scoops, and its on Heliotrope and Melrose, right behind LACC. The shop itself is small and charming, with little tables and couches to rest on, as well as a monthly revolving art show.

The ice cream is homemade every single day by the owner, and besides the staple flavor of brown bread, there are about 10-12 flavors that change everyday. It’s truly exciting to walk into Scoops and not know what kind of ice cream you’ll be privy to that day. And because all of the ice cream is made in tiny batches, the flavors and quality are astounding. Scoops also features four vegan flavors everyday, so everyone will find something to munch on.

And when it comes to flavors, I’m not talking vanilla. I have never seen a more exotic range of flavors at any ice cream parlor. Beet and Cashew. Salty Dulce De Leche. Bacon and Maple. Guinness and Coffee. Honey and Lavender. Lemon Chocolate. Avocado and Banana. And all of them, no matter how bizarre they might sound, are absolutely delicious. And they change daily, so if you don’t like today’s flavors (although you are bound to find something you’ll like) go tomorrow! It’s about $3 for a double scoop (and a single scoop counts as a double scoop) so you can try two new flavors for the price of one. If your ice cream jones isn’t satisfied, it’s only $1.75 for a “refill”. They welcome tasting, so try out every flavor if you are so inclined!

Besides being scrumptious, the other feature of Scoops that I love is that they have a bookshelf full of VHS, DVDs and books that you are free to borrow. No card, no writing down of information, they trust you to bring back whatever you borrow. And if you want to bring along a movie or book to donate when you return it, that’s great, but no obligation.

How does that sound for a little slice of Utopia right here in Los Angeles?