Courtesy of Clementine's Naughty and Nice Creamery
Clementine’s Naughty and Nice Creamery's Gooey Butter Cake ice cream was awarded the 2019 Silver Sofi award, as well as a 2019 Bronze Sofi for its Salted Crack Caramel flavor. The Specialty Food Association’s Sofi Awards, which announced its 2019 winners on May 1, have been celebrating the best in specialty food for 47 years.
“I strive every day to make the best ice cream in America, and to sweep two out of the three possible awards is both humbling and exciting," says Tamara Keefe, owner of Clementine's Naughty & Nice Creamery. "It’s the first time that has happened in the 47-year history of the competition.”
Judging took place over 12 days in the kitchens at the Specialty Food Association offices. Sofi Award honorees were selected through a blind tasting process and announced via video.
The Sofi Award brings with it extra exposure to thousands of food buyers from top names in supermarkets, specialty retailers, and food service distributors.
“I’m so grateful to see our decadent flavors getting global recognition," Keefe says. "It’s such a great thing for St. Louis.”
What’s next for Clementine’s Naughty & Nice Creamery? Keefe shared that the new location on Macklind in the Southampton neighborhood is just weeks away from opening, and the Maplewood shop is scheduled to debut in July. At the same time, the team is constantly developing new flavors, she says.
Courtesy of Clementine's
Pistachio Rosewater, one of the recently launched springtime botanical series flavors, along with White Chocolate Geranium, Jasmine Tea, and the ever-popular Honey Lavender
“We just introduced our springtime botanical series, but, of course, it doesn’t stop there,” says Keefe. “I’m always so excited to collaborate with badass women, so teaming up with Marcoot Jersey Creamery was a natural fit. We created three new flavors with their amazing cheeses: Smoked Gouda with caramelized apples, tart quark with strawberry and mint as well as Tomme with honeycomb brittle.” Those will be available at the creamery's shops as well as at the Marcoot country store.
Find the award-winning flavors at 730 DeMun in Clayton or 1637 S. 18th in Lafayette Square. Both shops are open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
