From Farming to Ice Cream: Jeni’s Ice Cream Shop (Chagrin Falls, OH)
Following our adventures on the farm, the weather was too nice to head home, so I decided to surprise my family with a trip over to Chagrin Falls to show the boys a waterfall, and possibly enjoy some ice cream. When I was in college, and even when I used to work out that direction, I would often find myself in the surrounding park districts as well as stop in the small town of Chagrin Falls. There was something just quite right about the intimate town of Chagrin Falls, and I knew it was something our boys would enjoy seeing.
The main goal was to let the boys see the waterfall along the Chagrin River, where an old flour mill used to be located. No matter how high or low the fall, seeing water cascade over the edge of a rock formation is beautiful and peaceful. I carefully transcended the staircase carrying Lan-Shark to get down close to the falls. Bug and Mrs. InACents slowly made their way down, but stayed a safe distance away due to Bug’s apprehension. Lan-Shark and I enjoyed the couple of moments together alone, as no one else was at the bottom of the walkway during our visit.
Lan-Shark was more than impressed I would say, as he stared and pointed in excitement. At least that is my interpretation after trying to read a one year old’s body language. Bug I think was more just happy to be outside and enjoying the weather.
After we climbed back up the stairway, we proceeded to walk over to the famous Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop. The historic little shop has been around since 1875, and has been visited by past President George Bush in September 2004. My wife and I have been in the shop several times in the past, and we even took Bug there once when he was one. As we were going in to try some ice cream, we just so happen to stumble upon our dream come true.
My wife and I had heard great things about a local ice cream shop located in Columbus, Ohio that served very unique flavors, called Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream. We had been to one of the Columbus locations several years ago on a trip to a Jimmy Buffett concert, and I remember being very impressed despite the high prices. Then you can imagine our surprise to see Jeni’s located in small town Chagrin Falls, Ohio.
Suddenly our plans for ice cream had become definite as there was no way we were going to pass up a trip to Jeni’s. Suddenly the flavors from our past had come screaming back into my mouth.
The store is located in a quaint little store front along North Main Street. In my experience, both Jeni’s locations we have been to maintain a small town feel inside. When we visited the Columbus location, the line was out the door, and as each person stood in front of the glass windows sampling all the flavors, people squeezed behind them trying to get back out the door. The flow of traffic was never much of a consideration in the design, and the same thing held true at the Chagrin Falls location.
Luckily the double doors could be both opened to get the stroller inside, and even if there had been a line, there was a little more room to get around than their Columbus counterparts. In addition, somehow even with the beautiful weather, and approximately 1:00 PM time frame, no one else was in the store. I again assume the time change had something to do with it, or otherwise everyone else has not experienced the finer things in Jeni’s ice cream.
We were greeted with two employees and were allowed to sample as many flavors as we chose. I was a sucker for the Riesling Poached Pear, as it was what I had last time and was one of the finest flavors I have ever experienced. My cone also allowed for a second scoop, so I also tried a Cherry Lambic Sorbet, which was sweet with a light Lambic beer flavor, but was nothing compared to the Riesling Poached Pear.
Bug had chosen a Tres Leches with Here-n-There Cherries, which was an interesting selection for a 2-year old. I think he may have been just excited to be eating ice cream though because as soon as he saw my cone, and tried the Cherry Lambic Sorbet, he made me swap my cone for his little kids cup. Guess who won?
I could swear I tasted some pleasant herbs strewn into the Tres Leches with Here-n-There Cherries, but looking at the ingredients, there does not appear to be any. That is one thing I exceptionally love about Jeni’s ice cream. The flavors somehow all mix and meld well together. There are often ingredients one would never predict for ice cream, but that is also what makes it unique and memorable.
My wife enjoyed the three scoop option, and had Mango Kiwi Special Cake, Icelandic Happy Marriage Cake (She was thinking of me the whole time!), and Riesling Poached Pear.
The ice cream was delectable! The price was not…over $15 and that was just for my wife and mine. They somehow forgot to charge us for Bug’s scoop, but I was so mesmerized by the price of two small items, that I did not even realize until later. It also might have been because no one wanted to take our money.
After we received all of our ice cream, they got hit with several other groups of people behind us, and never got around the charging us. We waited until everyone had been served, and then reminded them that we had yet to pay, and still after standing at the register, it took awhile for someone to pick up our tab.
So despite a minor hiccup, our family had a beautiful day out at the farmpark and in downtown Chagrin Falls. The scenery was quiet and quaint, and the boys enjoyed being outside of the house for the day in their natural setting.
Have you had the lucky experience of trying the Riesling Poached Pear ice cream at Jeni’s?
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I wonder how Chagrin Falls got it’s name – I expect there’s an interesting story there! Sounds like quite a unique ice cream shop – the flavours are intriguing – I think I’d have a hard time deciding!
I must try this ice cream – the poached pear sounds so good!!!!!!
Thanks so much for linking up with us each week – I just love hearing about your travels!
~Becca
I’m wondering now about how Chagrin Falls got its name too! 🙂
I have heard so many good things about jeni’s ice cream I’m dying to try it:) the flavors sound amazing! What a fun adventure.
These quaint towns are such a joy to visit especially when they have unique stores like Jeni’s. Love how they named all the flavors and all sound so delicious. Mango Kiwi and Magnolia Mochi sound pretty awesome too. Looks like a great place for an afternoon stroll and the waterfalls complete it.
What interesting flavors of ice creams. I’d go for the Mango Kiwi and the Tres Leches. Yum!
Thanks for introducing me to Chagrin Falls. Like the others, I also wondered how it got its name.
Great to come across some photos from my old Ohio home. 🙂
Oh my. Those are some interesting sounding flavors. Definitely a “must try” food stop in the US.
I love visiting Chagrin Falls (found it on the way home from a writers conference at Punderson State Park a half dozen years or so ago, and we’ve visited it quite a few times since then).
I’ve written about it quite a few times, too…and I have an answer about the town’s name. In one of my stories, I mentioned an historical marker at the falls that says the Chagrin River’s name came from a French trader named Francois Seguin who traded with northeastern Ohio Native Americans during the mid-1700s. The Chagrin Falls Historical Society has some other possible explanations but says the most accepted story is that the name is a corrupted and Americanized version of Seguin’s name.
Anyone here every hear the song Chagrin Falls by the Canadian band, the Tragically Hip? That was the thing that made me turn off the road and go on into town in the first place when I saw a sign pointing to it!
Thanks for the information on the Chagrin Falls history. Last night my sons brought over all the books from the shelf, and one of them was walking trails in Ohio. There was a whole section on Chagrin Falls, and they stated the same stuff you did above about the history.
This ice cream sounds delicious, and it’s in a lovely small town. What more could you ask for?
I tried the Tres Leches with Here-n-there Cherries too. Yum!