Handel's Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt

Handel's Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt
373 S Mountain Ave
Upland
909-946-9077

After some nice slices of NY style pizza at San Biagios, I stopped in at Handel's Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt. Every Wednesday, Handel's has a $1 scoop deal. The lines can be very long but they move pretty fast.



Heavenly Hash, $1, chocolate ice cream. The young lady at the window, said heavenly hash was like rocky road but instead of almonds, they had chocolate covered peanuts. The first thing I noticed about this ice cream was the creaminess, very smooth. But there were no actual marshmellows, like rocky road, more like marshmellow swirled into the ice cream, but that was find. The chocolate covered peanuts were great, providing a nice saltiness to the sweetness of the ice cream. The scoops are a bit small, but hey for a $1, it's fine.

Service is good. The lines move pretty fast and the young ladies are very nice.

The regular prices of the scoops is $3. I think that is a fair price for the quality of the ice cream. But the scoops better be bigger than their $1 scoops.

I like Handel's better than Fosselmans.

Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour-Closed

Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour
799A The Shops at Mission Viejo
Mission Viejo
949-364-5411

When I was a kid, Farrell's was the place we went to for birthdays and special occasions. But in the 1980's Farrell's was sold to the Moroniott Corporation and they ruin everything they touched. So by 1990 most Farrell's had closed down. But now the Farrell's is making a comeback.



I got the banana royale, $6.79, two scoops of vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, almonds, banana, and real whipped cream. The ice cream is good, about the quality of Thrifty or Carnation. It is good solid ice cream. Is this the best ice cream ever? No and it's not meant to be.

They even have the Green River fountain drink, which tastes like a lemon lime soda but is green.

But all the fun that goes with being at Farrell's, makes up for anything that maybe lacking with the food. A couple ordered the pig's trough, which is basically a double banana split and they made them stand up and wear pig's noses. It was fun. I can see how much fun kids would have coming here. I remember how much fun it was going to Farrell's.

Service was OK. The lady was nice and friendly but a bit slow. I didn't have any napkins, she didn't come around often, to refill drinks.

If Farrell's wasn't so far from me, I would go back more often, more the nostalgia than the quality of food or service.

Fosselman's Ice Cream Co

Fosselman's Ice Cream Co
1824 W Main St
Alhambra
626-282-6533

High expectations and low results. This is how I would describe Fosselman's Ice Cream. I have heard so much about Fosselman's but I've have never gone. So I finally decide to give them a try.

I got a single scoop of rocky road, $2..50. The ice cream itself was very smooth, much smoother than Dreyer's or Ben N Jerry's. But rocky road means marshmellows and almonds. Fosselman's rocky road has walnuts and no marshmellows. Not good and some of the walnuts tasted stale. Not a good example.

Service was pretty good. They were very crowded when I was there. They give free samples too. I tried the blueberry but wasn't impressed.

I would not make an extra trip for Fosselman's. Give me a scoop of Thrifty's ice cream anyday over Fosselman's.

Fairoaks Pharmacy

Fair Oaks Pharmacy
1526 Mission St
South Pasadena
626-799-1414

Fair Oaks Pharmacy has been a South Pasadena landmark since 1915. The soda fountain takes you back in time. The soda fountain is known for old fashioned ice cream and floats. They also serve a regular menu.

I ordered the Roadside half and half. Half garden salad and half a turkey sandwich. The salad was filled with all different types of lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers. The salad was fresh but nothing outstanding.

The turkey sandwich was also very fresh, with smoked turkey, lettuce and tomatoes on white bread. The salad and sandwich combo was $7.95.

The sundae pictured is mint chocolate chip topped with hot fudge, whipped cream, nuts and cherry.

Service was very slow. I realize it was a very hot day and a group of 25 people came in just before I got there. But there were at least six kids working behind the counter and nobody taking orders at the tables. When they first came to take my order, the kid walked right past me to another table. Then came back and asked if I had been helped. Why not ask me first before going to another table? Then when I placed my order, I realized that you have your choice of bread for the turkey sandwich. Now I'm not that picky. I like all kinds of bread but prefer wheat bread. They should have given me the option.

I think Fair Oaks Pharmacy is a place everybody should go to at least once. But the food is nothing special and the service is very poor.

Sugar and Spice

Sugar N Spice
310 Marine Ave.
Newport Beach
949-673-8907

After eating at Ciao, I wanted some ice cream and stopped by Sugar and Spice.

I got a couple scoops of ice cream and topped with nuts, about $3. The ice cream they use is standard stuff. Nothing special.

Service is below average. Spoiled, rich, OC kids who are forced to work and lack any work ethic. I doubt the girl behind the counter said more than ten words to me the entire time.

While walking around Balboa on a hot summer day, having ice cream is a real treat. Sugar and Spice hits the spot but the it's nothing great.

I may go back to try their famous Balboa Ice Cream Bar.