A Real Gem

Ruby Jewel Scoop Shop: 3713 N Mississippi

Ruby Jewel Scoop Shop on Mississippi Ave is a brilliant little place to get your ice cream fix. From the simple yet fun atmosphere to the house made everything, it’s hard to find anything to criticize. And while it’s located in a trendy neighborhood, it’s not too trendy for it’s britches; it’s just good.

Concept

The first thing to notice about Ruby Jewel is the huge line of people, crowding the sidewalk outside the store. This is always a good indication that whatever it is people are waiting in line for, it’s gonna be tasty. Then you notice that the storefront is a garage door that is open to the warm summer evening air. I’ll have you know that one of my favorite features of restaurants/cafes, etc. are garage door “walls” that roll up to let in the sunshine and an outdoor feel. The decor is clean with a slight craftsmanship feel, and a gigantic chalkboard draws your eyes to the back wall, with all the flavors and menu options written on it. You can see the fresh waffle cones being made as you wait. When you make your way through the eager crowd of people to the back of the shop, there are some friendly ladies who are happy to let you sample all you want and who quickly put together your order behind a sturdy wooden counter.

My favorite thing about Ruby Jewel is the craftsmanship they put into their product. I appreciate that you can order a sundae with toppings that they make themselves, that they put their own pride and style in. I love that they have toppings like house made peanut brittle, rosemary pecans, and candied coconut. Their sauces all sound delicious it’s hard to pick just one with choices like dulce de leche, marshmallow fluff and chocolate hazelnut.

But Ruby Jewel didn’t gain fame from her house made sauces, toppings, or waffle cones. Their secret is all in the ice cream sandwich. The scoop shop was made possible by the success of Ruby Jewel’s Handmade Ice Cream Sandwiches, sold at stores like New Seasons, Pastaworks, and Fred Meyers. And she is true to her origins with the opportunity to build your own ice cream sandwich upon your visit (even mix and match your cookies!). Ruby Jewel is also a company that prides itself on being a sustainable business and using all natural, Northwest ingredients.

Critique

I sampled many a flavor, most notably wasn’t even an ice cream but a sorbet. The Peach Apricot, a seasonal flavor, was bursting with ripe stone fruit flavor and carried a beautiful balance of sweet and tangy. Another interesting special flavor was the Salted Licorice, for die hard licorice fans only. It actually contained pieces of black licorice candy in it, which were somehow still soft enough to chew and not hardened into a frozen jaw breaker. It was delicious, but I can’t imagine going through a whole scoop, especially when the scoops here are so generous. [For the kids you may order a kids-size scoop, a dollar less than the regular size]. The Caramel with Salted Dark Chocolate (a standard offering) was rich and tasty, but the chocolate ganache had more depth of flavor than the caramel  ice cream. When it came time for me to order I went in a more conventional route; an ice cream sandwich with Vanilla Bean ice cream, one chocolate chip cookie and one double chocolate cookie. The Vanilla is everything you want in the traditional sense: rich, creamy, smooth, and studded with those perfect little vanilla beans. My only concern is the crispness of the cookies. It’s only a personal matter but I prefer chewy whereas these are crunchy. But the flavor was all there. I also recommend trying the unique Honey Lavender; it’s delicious! Hits all the right notes and is not too flowery.

There are a couple sundae creations on the menu board, like the Ahhh Joy, styled after the candy bar Almond Joy, topped with the house chocolate sauce, Marcona almonds and candied coconut. [Note to sweet tooth’s: I detect a liberal use of salt in the chocolate sauce, probably the same stuff you get in the caramel ice cream]. Other examples from the menu are the banana split (with peanut brittle!, because who likes just plain peanuts?), floats, and if you feel the need to take the experience home: pints of the handmade ice cream, ready to go.

I encourage you to try Ruby Jewel Scoop Shop. You’ll find a friendly ambiance, employees passionate about their product, and a one-of-a-kind selection of tasty treats. The most uncomfortable part about your visit will be trying to decide what you want. Oh, life is so full of difficult decisions…