What a success story! Van Leeuwen Ice Cream started out as a yellow scoop truck on the streets of New York City and now has 31 scoop shops across the country. That now includes Boulder and Denver! Founded in 2008 by Ben Van Leeuwen, Pete Van Leeuwen and Laura O’Neill, the team’s mission was to make ice cream that came from good ingredients that made you feel good. They created their original dairy recipe (the French method that uses double the egg yolks for a creamier, richer texture), and vegan/non-dairy ice cream (made with oat and cashew milk) and ice cream bars.
Writer Lisa Truesdale visited the Boulder location, the first in Colorado. In Good Taste’s publisher, Courtney, visited the Denver location about a month later. Together, they bring you this collaborative taste of what you’re in for with Van Leeuwen.
Van what?
First, let’s talk pronunciation so you can talk about Van Leeuwen confidently. According to their website, “Since we are in America ‘Van (like the car) Lou (like the name) Inn (like the hotel).’ If we were in the Netherlands ‘Von (the Von Trapp Family) Lei (Like the Hawaiian flower necklace) Vin (Like French for wine).’” Why bring the Netherlands into it? Ben and Pete Van Leeuwen are American with a Dutch dad. Laura is an Australian living in America. Courtney got to meet her at the Denver opening and found her to be very nice and a great conversationalist – they covered a ton of topics in a matter of minutes!
Van Leeuwen in Boulder – Lisa’s take:
Boulder was the first Colorado location, opening the first week of August. I like the location, at the Twenty Ninth Street shopping area, because sometimes you just want to stop for a treat after shopping! I also liked that it was open late, even after the stores had closed – until 11pm on Fri-Sat, and 10pm the other nights. Tip: It’s much easier to find parking when the stores are closed.
When Van Leeuwen opens stores, they create a hyper-local flavor, connecting with their new home in a delicious way. The Boulder-specific flavor is called Rocky Mountain Road. These opening flavors are limited-edition creations, created in small batches, available for a short time only. When they sell out, that’s it unless the flavor was so incredibly popular, then they may put it on the menu permanently for that location. Here’s how it is described: “Rocky Mountain Road is a green spruce ice cream with a fudge swirl, marshmallows, candied pecans and pistachios. Inspired by the smell of pine and spruce warmed in the early morning summer sun, this unique flavor evokes moments of solitude in the mountains.” If it’s gone by the time you get to the Boulder location, well, sorry! But there are plenty of other flavors to love.
Overall, I love how creamy Van Leeuwen’s ice cream is! I loved the Honeycomb flavor, and I got it topped with additional little crunchy honey bits. The Marionberry Cheesecake is also amazing… so fresh tasting! I’m not really an ice cream freak (I know, I’m in the minority), but it was really good.
They also have vegan/non-dairy flavors made with oat/cashew milk, and I have a few friends who really appreciate that… they’re sick of only being able to get non-dairy sorbet when they go to a place like this.
Van Leeuwen in Boulder is located at 1750 29th St.
Van Leeuwen in Denver – Courtney’s take:
The second location of the ice cream shop opened this summer in Larimer Square, which pleases me no end because the historic block has been a part of my life my whole life. I’ve worked in Larimer Square, shopped and dined there, and attended festivals there. Seeing new businesses go in is like welcoming in a new friend.
Even those who don’t have such affection for Larimer Square will surely be very happy that Van Leeuwen has opened, giving them another option for a dessert or no-reason-in-particular treat. The pastel colors draw the eye (and people) in to the narrow spot where they’ll find the variety of ice cream and non-dairy flavors available by the cup, cone, or in other forms waiting to be topped with syrups, sprinkles, and other add-ons.
Normally, I live by the dessert philosophy that, if it doesn’t contain chocolate in a big way, it isn’t worth the calories. But I’ll tell you, other flavors drew me in and I had to try them, like Sicilian Pistachio, Praline Butter Cake, Marionberry Cheesecake, and Honeycomb. Like Lisa, this flavor was a favorite. When I was a kid, Mountain High Yogurt made ice cream and “honey” was one of their top flavors. Van Leeuwen’s version was as delicious but made even better with the slightly chewy texture of bits of actual honeycomb mixed in. There IS life beyond chocolate, turns out.
The Denver-specific, limited-edition flavor is Crooked Stave, done in partnership with local artisan brewery, Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project. I would have chosen this flavor for its luscious, magenta color alone but I was intrigued by the combination of raspberry and blueberry sorbet made with the brewery’s famous sour ale and sour rosé. Like the Boulder flavor, you might or might not still find this one available next time you go. Fear not, thought, there are plenty of other flavors available. And when you find a favorite, pints are available for purchase in the store.
Wait, isn’t Van Leeuwen known for the weird flavors?
Yes! They’ve done flavor collaborations that include Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and Grey Poupon! Before you get all “ooo, gross” about the idea, co-owner Laura O’Neill explained to me that there’s no pasta involved in the Mac and cheese one but they do use the powdered seasoning. That’s the norm for people in the Philippines, she explained. I can totally see (taste) it, actually. As for the Grey Poupon, Laura explained it’s more like ribbons of it running through the ice cream. “It’s not like you’re getting a spoonful of mustard,” she said. And may I say “thank you” for that! I’m curious to try that one if the opportunity arises. Meanwhile, there are many less adventurous but quite unique flavors to be enjoyed at both locations of Van Leeuwen in Colorado. Give some a try and let us know what you think.
Van Leeuwen in Denver is at 1459 Larimer St.
Learn more about the company, their products, which Colorado grocers carry their products, and more on their website.
-Story by Lisa Truesdale and Courtney Drake-McDonough. Photos and graphic by In Good Taste Denver, except the opening image, which was graciously provided by Van Leeuwen ice cream.
For a glimpse of the Larimer Square location, see our YouTube video, below:
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