Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream is a quaint little shop in the Mission where you can get rad flavors of ice cream any day of the week. I’m only still learning the lingo of the SF food scene, but apparently HS is all the rage. And I have no idea what’s up with the name, btw. (Update: Per this NY Times article, “Mr. Humphries and Mrs. Slocombe were characters on the bawdy old British sitcom ‘Are You Being Served?'”)
The line outside Humphrey Slocombe on your typical sunny Saturday (or so I’m told).
One time, I went to this ice cream shop in Berkeley that had a line out the door. And I was like, “oh, wow, this place must be amazing”. A double scoop of basil and lavender ice creams later and I was done with that place. So when I heard that Humphry Slocombe serves up their own unique flavors, I braced myself for some seriously weird hippie shit. They did not deliver. Which is to say, it was amazing.
HeardAbout.com hosted a free scoop of ice cream day which is what drew me to HS last Saturday. I tell you this because the free scoop flavor was “fluffernutter“, which is apparently a thing. It’s marshmallow creme and peanut butter, to be exact. And since I don’t love peanut butter in anything but a PBJ, I wasn’t super excited. But, trying to be a “yes” person more (shut up, just go with it), I opted to just give it a try.
It was awesome. For reals. Fluffernutter, who knew? It was sweet and peanut buttery and creamy and delicious. I got it on a cone* (um, duh) and thoroughly enjoyed every bite on a beautiful sunny San Francisco Saturday. Amazing. So amazing that I forgot to take a picture.
Daily flavors posted.
Apparently their “famous” flavor is “Secret Breakfast“, which is bourbon and corn flakes. Which sounds hilarious, but I was skeptical (see lavender ice cream above). One of the cool things about HS is that they let you try as many flavors as you want before you order. So, while I hate holding up lines (it’s too close to rule-breaking or cheating), I tried their Blue Bottle Coffee flavor and the Secret Breakfast. The coffee was good (but nothing beats Haagen Dazs coffee, sorry), but the Secret Breakfast was amazing. And so they won me over. Humphrey is legit people, no kidding.
Things to note: the flavors rotate daily and (I think) seasonally. They change that stuff up constantly. Go with it, trust them with your ice cream decisions. Also, this place is no secret. I thought the immense line out the door was because of the free scoop special that day. Alas, no. White folks in the Mission flock to this place like ants on a dead rodent.
*My friend Marc instructed me that day on the art of biting off the bottom of the ice cream cone and eating the ice cream from the hole thusly created. He stands by this method, but I found it to be difficult, hurried, ungraceful, and impendingly messy. I’m glad I tried it only so that I have the proper ammunition to make fun of others who practice this habit.
Sounds like a great place! I am surprised that you did not bite off the end of the cone as a kid. I was neglectful in my parenting for sure!
That’s what I always tell people, mom; I’m glad we’re in agreement. 😉
Love the unique flavors at Humphry Slocombe! 🙂 I always misspell their name.