Screamin’ Mimi’s pink ice cream shop is irresistible. Leaning out from a corner of down town Sebastopol, its window signs tempt passersby with curious flavors like lavender ice cream or jalapeño lime sorbet.
“Recently I had a long time customer request his favorite flavors , hazelnut and cassis, on his 80th birthday” replied founder Maraline Olson when asked about quirky requests she’d received over the years. “I once had a young man call and ask for me to make galaxy (our chocolate chip) with raspberry swirl in it because that is what his girlfriend would like and he was planning on getting engaged while eating it.”
It’s no wonder people share these special moments of life with Screamin’ Mimi’s, a business dedicated to community. Besides donating and supporting local schools, 4-H clubs, and farms in and around Sebastopol, they also hold a Blood Drive.
“The first Sunday in August we have our Pint for Pint Blood Drive. It has become Sonoma County’s largest private blood drive, securing over 300 pints of blood in one day…. And donors get a free pint of Screamin’ Mimi’s ice cream” (see website).
Creating handcrafted small batch flavors for over 20 years, Screamin’ Mimi’s has ranked 4th in USA Today’s Ten Best Ice Cream Parlors, and since opening, the shop has been voted Sonoma County’s Best Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert every year.
Of course every success rests atop a number of not-so-successful attempts, and when I asked Mimi about ice cream recipes gone awry, ” There was one,” she explained, “…Kiwi. I was determined to make a natural Kiwi ice cream, so I used beautiful ripe Kiwis, a lot of them. It was so pretty , and the initial flavor was delicious. And then something weird happened. It would go from delicious to sour and almost curdle in your mouth. So horrible. I had to throw it all out. Have never tried to make Kiwi ice cream again, only Kiwi sorbet which was successful.”
And speaking of successful, the inside of the shop is decorated with local art, beautiful murals, and colorful painted furniture, making it well worth your time to stop in and enjoy!
Screamin’ Mimi’s 6902 Sebastopol Ave, Sebastopol, CA
