The Good Scoop is a frozen treat experience like no other in Davis’s humble downtown. Marnie and Stephen Layton (a UC Davis alumni himself, go Aggies!) opened an ice cream shop featuring high quality ingredients with unique and traditional flavors. The ice cream is made with certified organic ingredients, with fresh herbs, spices, teas, and fruits. Marnie explains, “We use less sugar than typical ice cream brands, so you can really taste the true flavors of the ingredients.”
Photo by Lauren Lamm
Marnie isn’t messing around when she speaks about true flavors. Jasmine green, chamomile, and rooibos taste like freshly steeped cups of tea, and Garden Delight has an authentic floral undertone from real edible flowers! Even conventional flavors such as strawberry and chocolate taste noticeably of higher quality and are more delicious than more common brands. It’s also free of emulsifiers, GMOs, preservatives, and artificial flavors and colors, so mint chip doesn’t look like a shamrock shake, and banana isn’t highlighter yellow.
Photo by Lauren Lamm
The Good Scoop rotates flavors seasonally, so the ice cream features ingredients at their peak freshness. Locally-sourced, seasonal flavors such as pink peppercorn, geranium, and cardamom are bright to please a sophisticated palate, yet modest and not overwhelming. Other unique flavors include chocolate chipotle, avocado, strawberry rose, lavender, beet balsamic, all-spice, and many more.
Photo by Lauren Lamm
As if crazy flavors and insanely high quality ice cream isn’t enough to lure you into the shop, the smell of their organic, handmade waffle cones is downright heavenly. Both classic and black sesame waffle cones (which I highly recommend) pair amazingly with any flavor. You can also dress up your frozen treat with drool-worthy chocolate sauces, nuts, and pink Himalayan sea salt. Aside from scooped ice cream and fresh cones, there are brownie ice cream sandwiches, tons of popsicle flavors, agave-sweetened sorbets, and awesome Stumptown cold brew coffee. Can an ice cream shop be more perfect?
Photo by Lauren Lamm
Marnie, Stephen, and their staff are enthusiastic to give samples and talk about the story behind their adorable shop and amazing products. The Good Scoop experience isn’t your typical ice cream run. The great company, honest flavors, and high quality ingredients redefine frozen treat standards and give generic ice cream brands a run for their money.
Photo by Lauren Lamm