The Scoop

To Jeni Britton Bauer, anything made in Ohio is local, which explains why the owner of Columbus-based Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams talks as if Cleveland is in her backyard. She started selling her frozen treats, made from the cream of grass-fed cows and filled with Ohio-grown produce (much of it from our backyard), here two years ago on dessert menus at Bar Cento and then The Greenhouse Tavern. "Jonathon Sawyer told us he had people coming out just for the ice cream," says Britton Bauer. So, what's all the fuss? Having fun, seasonal flavors such as goat cheese (from local Mackenzie Creamery) with roasted red cherries, lemon and blueberry yogurt and strawberry buttermilk helps. But so does the slow-cook process that almost caramelizes the milk for a smoother texture and greater sweetness. This summer, you can get your Jeni's fix at Whole Foods Market, Constantino's Market and Nature's Bin, which all recently picked up pints ($9.99), in addition to the Miles Farmers Market. "Opening a store in Cleveland is definitely in our scope," Britton Bauer teases, noting it won't be this year. "It's just a matter of finding the right spot."