McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams

Even though the distance between Santa Barbara and Orange County is similar to a drive from LA to San Diego – around 130 miles, give or take – McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams waited 75 years to open its first OC scoop shop, skipping nearer-by Anaheim, Huntington Beach, and Stanton in favor of San Juan Capistrano, closer to an earlier location in Carlsbad. We were familiar with the brand solely from its pricey but interesting pints, which supermarkets sold for $10 even before recent inflation; now there’s a chance to explore a much wider collection of flavors at the River Street Marketplace.

McConnell’s is somewhat unique in having operated its own dairy – raising cows and producing milk since 1934, pivoting their output solely to ice cream production in the 1970s. According to the company, its ice cream base is over 18% milkfat compared with typical artisan levels of 13-14%, and no stabilizers, fillers, or preservatives are used. In other words, while this ice cream isn’t healthy, it’s creamy and full of flavor without being filled with artificial ingredients.

Two refrigerators offer access to around 30 different flavors, notably including at least five coffee variants (black coffee chip, Brazilian coffee, coffee, coffee cookie crumble, pumpkin spiced latte), multiple chocolates (chocolate chocolate chocolate, chocolate covered strawberries, Dutchman’s chocolate, and reindeer tracks to name but a few), and flavors with passion fruit, mango, Martinelli’s apple cider, blue raspberry, and marionberry. Pints here are $13 each – still crazy, in our view – with the alternative to order single (1-2 flavor), double (1-4 flavor), or tasting flight (5-flavor) scoops for $7.50 to $12.

Cones, cookies, and brownies are also available, as are shakes, sundaes, floats, and build-your-own ice cream sandwiches. We ordered a vanilla ice cream and Coca-Cola ice cream float, which includes enough ice cream and soda to fill a large glass, plus the balance of a Coke bottle to either drink or refill the float. It was exactly as expected – nice but basic – which you can decide for yourself is or isn’t worth the $9.50 asking price.