Relish

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, a Columbus company with nine scoop shops in Ohio and two in Tennessee, has a St. Louis tie. Jeni Britton Bauer's husband, Charly, her business partner, is a St. Louisan (Parkway South!), and his brother Tom is a partner as well. Jeni herself, who grew up in Peoria, was at their booth at the summer Fancy Food Show, like many well-known names in this business, and we talked briefly.

Her Lemon Yogurt was a day away from winning the sofi Gold Award for best dessert or dessert topping, but more of interest to us is the Gooey Butter Cake Ice Cream, which we haven't yet tasted. Chunks of cake with a brown sugar-caramel sauce is the report. She says her mother made GBC when she was growing up, and explored it further after her marriage, on visits to St. Louis.

To make the Missouri link even stronger, she also uses Shawn Askinosie's chocolate in the signature Askinosie Dark Milk Chocolate Ice Cream. "He's the best in the world," said Jeni, of the Springfield, MO, chocolatier.

Perusing Jeni's website is a treat in itself. With pure and unusual flavors like Whisky & Pecans and Goat Cheese with Red Cherries, the palette of seasonal and limited edition offerings (the "Independence Day Collection" is below) will likely overcome any aversion to the lofty ($9.99/pint) price tag.   

You can order online or indulge in several of Jeni's flavors at local Straub's Markets.

Oh, and we're one step ahead of you...we just put in a request there for some Gooey Butter. 

Editor's Note: Brian @sonuvagunder Gunderson informs Relish of a double-dip: that Jeni's is also available at Local Harvest Grocery on Morgan Ford.