I love my neighborhood. Since having moved into Hampden proper, I’ve really been trying to take advantage of everything it has to offer. One of the most amazing parts is “The Avenue“. While touristy, it’s also really fun for locals as well. There are plenty of shops and really amazing restaurants. But one thing that has been missing in the neighborhood has been icy treats. Well, now there is a new shop in town.
The Charmery
The Charmery opened up this past weekend. If the crowds on Sunday at 5pm were any indication about how much the residents in Hampden were excited, I’d say that The Charmery will have no issues. All the ice cream is made in store. The dairy is locally sourced as is most of the other ingredients. They definitely do a nod to Baltimore style flavors including an Old Bay caramel flavor and a Berger cookie flavor. But what I found MOST exciting is that the store is offering vegan options! After having some regular ice cream for the first time in a very long time two weeks ago and having a violent reaction (SORRY!), I was really happy for this option. The option(s) could be a sorbet, a home made soda, or even coconut milk ice cream. Luckily for me they had the coconut milk ice cream!
Toasted Coconut ice cream
The flavor was toasted coconut, and it was DELICIOUS. The texture is not as solid and creamy as what traditional milk ice cream would be, but it’s still so good. The single scoop was for sure enough for one person to eat. The ice cream was still so rich due to the fat content of coconut milk, plus the toasted coconut adds an interesting texture and deeper flavor to the cream. I was told that the cones are currently not egg free, but they are working on getting a vegan option, plus they are working on creating their own vegan chocolate sauce. I’m SUPER stoked to see this place grow.
A Jew Broad Cooks 