Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams: Yeah, The Hype Is For A Reason

Why does Jeni's always have a line?  Have you ever met someone from Ohio and they only wanted to talk about Jeni's?  

Each time I have driven by Jeni's it has had a very long, snaking line.  Each time I have driven by Jeni's, I have  parked my car and found my way at the end  of  that line.  Out of Columbus, Ohio, Jeni's offers a huge array of seasonal, fresh ice creams.  The menu itself could easily take you twenty minutes to really read and ponder.  This is why it is important that there is a line so that when it is your turn to order, you know what you want, or at least, what you want to try.  My first visit there I tried at least four flavors.  My favorites were the grapefruit and the milkiest milk chocolate.  The grapefruit was one of the most clean and perfectly sweetened ice creams I have ever had.  Not too sweet, you are left with a creamy grapefruit flavor – two things that rarely see each other in the light of day.  The chocolate is rich with a hint of sea salt and a milkiness shining through it all.  Something that I hope to see from jeni's someday is more offerings for vegans beyond the awesome listings of sorbets – I am thinking almond and coconut-based flavors.  Their sundae menu was intriguing and I hope to try a couple of those next time I am on that side of town.  I am glad that this legendary institution has found its way to Nashville, but with most of its ingredients coming from Ohio, I can't help but wish that there was a more local version of this national sensation.