CREAM opens to sweet, satisfying start

With an a plethora of dining options surrounding USC including burger joints, pizza parlors, sandwich shops and cafes, one might wonder what can be added to the community that is not already accessible to USC students. The obvious answer? A high-quality ice cream sandwich shop.

Located on 3335 So. Figueroa St. next to CVS, CREAM provides customers with homemade cookies, excellent ice cream and other appetizing sweets to build an ice cream sandwich that satisfies their sweetest desires. This is the first CREAM location to open in Los Angeles. There are currently nine CREAM locations open throughout California, and the chain has plans to expand in the future.

After months of endless planning and a week of promoting free ice cream sandwiches, CREAM prepared for an enormous turnout of eager customers. And indeed, the massive line bringing together USC students and other Los Angeles community members alike is a testament to the notion that even in days of everlasting midterm strife and hectic schedules, people take their ice cream seriously.

The interior of the restaurant is minimal in decoration and limited in space, making for a pleasantly casual atmosphere. The employees are enthusiastic as they assist customers, build ice cream sandwiches and offer suggestions for those who are indecisive. Once at the front of the line, the serving process is quick and simple. When ordering an ice cream sandwich, customers are able to choose from a wide selection of cookies, ice cream flavors and toppings all for just $2.99. Perhaps the most difficult aspect of the CREAM experience is selecting one ice cream flavor out of the many, which include french vanilla, chocoholic, butter pecan and strawberry cheesecake. The ice cream selection, along with a cookie selection including chocolate chip, snickerdoodle and red velvet, are sure to make the possibilities of sweet desires infinite, keeping CREAM a fresh snacking option over time. Among CREAM’s toppings are gummy bears, cherries, sprinkles and Nutella. Brownies and milkshakes are alternatives for those who are not in the mood for ice cream sandwiches.

Though a majority of restaurants with alternative dining options might be underwhelming with their limited gluten-free and vegan-friendly options, this is not the case with CREAM. One of the restaurant’s most impressive features is that there are enough gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan-friendly options to include those with special dietary needs in the fun of creating endless ice cream sandwich combinations. A broad selection of options is necessary for restaurants specializing in customization, and CREAM provides customers with a satisfying range of sweets.

Two integral yet generally overlooked components of any ice cream sandwich are the cookies, which are not as thick in width as some might expect. On their own, the chocolate chip cookies are decent but do not capture the warm essence of most homemade cookies. As a sandwich, however, the cookie-to-ice-cream ratio is perfect and prevents customers from being overwhelmed by the cookie or the ice cream. The combination of the cookies and ice cream are sure to take anyone’s taste buds to exciting territories.

The freshly baked cookie aroma looming within CREAM might be misleading to those expecting fresh, chewy cookies. The first bite of the chocolate chip cookie requires one to bite with colossal strength. Once past the hard edge, the center of the cookie is softer, making the sandwich much more enjoyable. The sweetness of the chocolate chip cookie then works with the richness of the ice cream, making for an irresistible and fulfilling snack. After finishing one of CREAM’s ice cream sandwiches, it becomes puzzling why this sweet, satisfying place had not found its way into the area sooner.

What might be considered the most appealing part of the ice cream sandwich, the ice cream, is plentiful and unique in flavor. In particular, the soy mint chocolate chip ice cream abounds in the rich, sweet mixture of soy milk and chocolate, and contains a subtle yet satisfying hint of mint in every bite. The quality and richness of the ice cream is enough to distinguish it from generic-brand mint chocolate chip ice cream.

As evidenced by the organization of the opening of CREAM, much effort has been put into ensuring a pleasant, lasting first impression among customers. With the incredible amount of customers leaving CREAM with both a smile and an ice cream sandwich, it is difficult to find an aspect on which CREAM fails to deliver.

It might be easy to get caught up in the fast and furious midterm frenzy, but much like the success of its opening day suggests, CREAM provides uplifting treats suitable for any occasion. As any ice cream connoisseur will tell you, when ice cream is low quality, it’s still tolerable. But when ice cream is as top-notch as it is at CREAM, it is nothing short of heavenly.