Coolest Wheels in Town: Seattle's Most Awesome Ice Cream Trucks
The ice cream truck jingle has long been the soundtrack to summer, but things have changed since the day of Otter Pops and Klondike Bars. Put all of these grown-up-friendly freeze-mobiles and carts on your summer list. (Tip: Check social media to confirm times and locations.)
Nutty SquirrelGelato
This award-winning gelateria, with outposts in Maple Valley, Greenwood, and Capitol Hill (inside Eat Local), also operates a trike cart at special events and farmers markets. Get the latest scoop on where the cart will be on Facebook.
Sweet Wheels
The hot-pink truck rolls with a classic-car theme, selling ice-cream sandwiches such as the T-Bird (espresso chocolate shortbread with white coffee ice cream). Call 206-972-4618 or check Facebook for locations. Check Facebook for locations; and they're also sold at these retail locations.
Pop Up
Part of a mobile-food fleet operated by Mobile Mavens, the Crayola-orange bike cart — which opened in June — serves up fave local frozen treats such as Whidbey Island Ice Creamery’s ice cream bars, Vovito gelato pops and Cupcake Royale sammies.
Six Strawberries Artisan Ice-Pops
This 3-year-old wood-paneled bike cart will convert even the most diehard ice cream fan to ice pops. Flavors range from mixed melon and peach lemonade to a surprisingly light chocolate-dipped peanut butter. @sixstrawberries
Balleywood Creamery
Named for Ballard, Phinney Ridge and Greenwood, Balleywood combines old-time flair with cutting-edge flavor. Classics with a twist include bourbon vanilla and chocolate malt; adventurous options are Salt Block Syrah (red wine, duck-fat caramel, pink salt) or Silk Road Squash (butternut squash, saffron, cardamom). Herbs are sourced from owner Karen Kinbar’s own backyard.
The Cookie Counter
Note: The Cookie Counter just opened a Greenwood retail shop at 7415 Greenwood Ave N., so the vegan ice-cream bus is on hiatus. When the bus is operating, husband-and-wife team Chris Olson and Chelsea Keene serve vegan, from-scratch ice-cream sandwiches — gluten-free options exist, too — out of a vintage 1974 Volkswagen bus. Combos to try include old-school chocolate-chip vanilla and lemon-ginger cookie with matcha tea ice cream. @seattlecookie
