Salt & Straw Ice Cream Opens Two Seattle Shops

Move over, pork belly, bee pollen, goji berries... gourmet ice cream is a food trend with staying power. Fabled Portland-based ice cream purveyor Salt & Straw opens two shops in Seattle this month, and you can get the first lick this weekend when the Ballard shop opens its doors on Friday, Feb. 9 at 11 a.m.

So what do you think of cheese-flavored ice cream? Show up and find out — Salt & Straw is happy to dole tastes before you commit to a flavor.

Salt & Straw, founded by cousins Kim Malek and Tyler Malek in 2011, has earned legions of fans with its imaginative ice cream flavors such as Pear & Blue Cheese and Arbequina Olive Oil. Salt & Straw specializes in small-batch ice cream made with locally-sourced ingredients.

A week after the Ballard shop opens, a second shop on Capitol Hill will open Friday, Feb. 16, at 714 E. Pike St. Both shops will be open 11 a.m.–11 p.m. daily.

Both Seattle shops will offer a menu of 17 flavors including Salt & Straw favorites such as Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons and Honey Lavender. Tyler Malek, head ice cream maker, has also developed a roster of Seattle-specific flavors using local products. Think Beecher's Cheese, Ellenos Yogurt and Rachel's Ginger Beer. Five seasonal flavors on the menu in the new Seattle shops feature chocolate from local chocolatiers Fran's, Theo, Intrigue, Forte Artisan and Fresco Chocolate.

Word is, it's okay to study all the flavors in the scooping freezer and ask to taste as many as you like. Another tip we heard from a Salt & Straw pro: If you don't have time to wait in a long line for a scoop or a cone, grab a pint from the freezer and head straight to the checkout to pay.

Salt & Straw likes to keep its fans craving ice cream through its social media. Keep an eye on its Instagram for delicious-looking ice cream shots and announcements of special events and new flavors.