Humphry Slocombe Is Giving Away Free Ice Cream Today

Did somebody say free ice cream?

San Francisco’s Humphry Slocombe, home to the city’s most experimental ice cream wizardry, is celebrating 10 years in business today. The original Mission shop at 2790A Harrison Street is serving free scoops from noon to midnight, plus festive extras like prizes and an interactive flavor inspiration board. Humphry Slocombe will also be collecting $1 donations to Project Open Hand, which distributes food to the elderly and disabled.

Speaking of ice cream...

Portland-based creamery Salt & Straw is committing to more vegan ice cream in 2019 — specifically, at least 20 percent of its menu — and kicking things off with a Vegandulgence flavor series, debuting today and running through the end of January. The series features a variety of plant-based ingredients and preparations. The Elvis Peanut Butter Banana Split, for example, stars frozen bananas, cashew butter, marionberry jam, and peanut butter faux-bacon brittle. The Candied Apricot Faux-yo features frozen yogurt made from coconut cream, ramped up with lime, cardamom, and candied apricots. And Oatmeal Moon Pies with Aquafaba Marshmallow takes a chocolate coconut ice cream base and throws in oatmeal-chickpea cookies and marshmallows made from chickpea liquid.

Palo Alto loses a hub

After 12 years in business, Palo Alto Baking Co. is closing on Monday, December 31. The neighborhood bakery, which serves a variety of morning pastries, tarts, crepes, and desserts, will continue to sell wholesale items as well as wedding cakes via special order after it shuts its doors.

Time to explore Monterey

As January approaches, so does various city’s restaurant weeks, giving folks opportunities to try out restaurants with special multi-course menus — usually at a discounted price. Monterey County is getting in on the action for the first time in 2019. Dubbed Get Hooked, the restaurant week will run from January 14 though 21 and focus on Monterey Bay’s sustainable seafood options, such as rock fish and sablefish. So far, 14 restaurants have signed up across Monterey, Pacific Grove, and Carmel, with more to come.