Loads of icecream

Generally writing I'm not much of an ice-cream fan, the stuff you can get in the supermarket is mostly full of ingredients you can't spell to and much less know the purpose of. I want the things I eat and enjoy to be as basic, natural and fresh as possible, most icecreams aren't.

With some exceptions of course, the "home-made" ones with ingredients I totally accept belong in icecreams - Häegen-Dazs for example. And I enjoyed the Minghella icecreams when in England - as far as I know they can't be found in Sweden unfortunately. And of course Italian icecreams from small familyrun companies. The icecreams in South Africa were always really good too, not that I knew what was in them, but well sometimes ignorance really is bliss...

When in Stockholm, one of the best places to eat fresh, uncomplicated, inventive - if your heart desires beetroot-, avocado- or beer-icecream for example - icecream with a twist, is Stockholms glass & pastahus (The Stockholm icecream & pastahouse). Synthetic ingredients are completely forbidden. The icecream-house was founded some 20 years ago and is still going strong, still serving one of the best icecreams in town.

My favourite for years has been Swiss toffee, but I'm not too keen on that anymore. My new found favourite is a divine flavour that's called Teheran. With saffron, rosewater and pistacchio, can't be described must be tasted!

Their chocolate icecreams are great too - and their bestsellers apparently - M likes his chocolate darker than dark - like this one with chili - , I prefer it to be white. And with nutty, crispy bits.

The scoops of icecream you get are big, and with about 48 flavours to chose from you'll easily find your personal favourite.

Myself, I invested in a lovely little icecream-book during the sales in February, by the British chef Susanna Tee. Lots of interesting recipes and mouthwatering pictures. Perhaps this is the summer to dust down my little icecream-machine Ismet - wordplay in Swedish, is = ice, smet = paste hence Ismet being the perfect name for an icecream-macine!

Do you enjoy eating icecream? If so, where can one find your favourite ice-cream place? Maybe you've had your best icecream experience when travelling? Feel free to share!