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By Amanda Southall And Aynsley Fisher
They say it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity. Either way, as temperatures rise and summer sizzles, the best thing to do is to do it on ice. Ice cream, that is. Perhaps the best thing to come from of all the heat and humidity is lots of ice cream. And the West End offers the very best in a variety of ice-cream related categories.
Most Kid-friendly:
Carvel Ice Cream 10220 Staples Mill Road, 756-6004
 AMANDA: Do I hear someone screaming for ice cream? What better place to go than Carvel Ice Cream? With a sprinkles tower, a moon bounce every Sunday and cake decorating parties, the shop is great for kids, or the kid at heart.
“People come in here because they grew up with Carvel ice cream,” says owner Jack Singer. “I grew up with this ice cream; it’s just as good as I remember.”
Carvel’s ice cream and soft serve is made fresh daily. Everything in the shop is fun, fresh and kid-friendly.
AYNSLEY: Carvel is truly an ice cream parlor. In fact, I’d vote it as the best overall ice cream parlor we visited. Adults will feel like kids again. Kids will feel like they have hit the ice cream lottery (they will love the giant rainbow sprinkle dispenser). With a retro feel, baby blue walls, pink vinyl-covered chairs and metal tables, a visit to Carvel will take you right back to your childhood. Kids favorites include crazy cotton candy, sour blueberry and cake mix (the best cake mix around!) Top adult picks include peanut butter treasure, mint chocolate chip, butter pecan and maple walnut. Every flavor is made daily in the shop. They also offer soft-serve, Italian ices, birthday cakes, cinnabons and they host birthday parties and cake decorating for girl scouts. Serving only premium ice cream, their slogan is “It’s what happy tastes like.” No doubt about it.
Best Ice Cream Dessert:
Edible Garden 12506 River Road, 784-2011
 AYNSLEY: Located on River Road West in Goochland County is The Edible Garden where diners are guaranteed to “celebrate the simple pleasures of food.” Housed in an old country store, The Edible Garden serves up seasonal, all natural, farm fresh food in a charming setting. It’s the dessert case that steals the show. Chef Ed Blase creates fabulous cakes and pies that are served with vanilla ice cream. The ice cream is fresh from Yoder Dairies, an Amish operation since 1929 in Newport News. What makes this ice cream unique is the incredible smooth vanilla flavor…the best around. Go for dinner and dessert, or just drop in for dessert. Be sure to try their signature Apple Cake with vanilla ice cream. Other favorites include Coconut Cake, Carrot Cake and Chocolate Blackout Cake. Sometimes you’ll find the best dessert of all is a scoop of vanilla ice cream all by itself.
AMANDA: Goochland’s Edible Garden has more than just fresh, locally grown, organic fare. Their ice cream can be paired with homemade apple cake, on a sundae or on its own. Like the rest of the menu, the dessert items rotate, but no matter what the pairing, this ice cream earns the title of best ice cream dessert in Richmond.
Best Flavors:
Ben & Jerry’s 2901 West Cary Street, 359-1101
 AMANDA: Got a hankering for Cherry Garcia, Coffee Coffee Buzz Buzz or Coconut Seven Layer Bar ice cream? Head to Ben & Jerry’s where creating crave-worthy flavors is serious business.
“There have been hundreds of flavors in the history of Ben & Jerry’s,” says Bill Busching, who owns the shop with his mother, Ellen. “They taste great because all of the ingredients are 100 percent natural.”
The natural ingredients and creative recipes come together for the best flavors in Richmond.
“I don’t think there’s anywhere in the world people don’t love ice cream,” Busching says.
AYNSLEY: Using only all-natural ingredients, rBGH-free dairy, with 36 flavors to choose from, you may want to try new introductions to the ice cream line-up like peanut butter cookie dough and strawberry banana frozen yogurt. Most popular flavor? Chocolate chip cookie dough is still king.
Best Overall:
Bev’s Homemade Ice Cream 2911 W. Cary Street, 204-2387
 AMANDA: Bev Mazursky’s bright colorful ice cream shop has been a mainstay in Carytown for 10 years. Known for its homemade ice cream and quirky swivel chairs, Bev’s Homemade Ice Cream delights customers with creative daily flavors, malts, shakes, floats and more.
Between the fresh flavors and friendly service (and don’t forget the swivel chairs!) Bev’s also gets my vote for best overall cone.
AYNSLEY: In Carytown, across from the Byrd Theatre, you’ll discover an ice cream oasis. Bev’s Homemade Ice Cream and Café offers something for every taste. Ice Cream is an art form there, the perfect marriage of simple all natural ingredients (in the case of Banana, think sweet cream, bananas and cinnamon) and creativity (think Coffee Malted Stout.) With 13 regular flavors anchoring the menu, chocolate, vanilla and espresso Oreo are favorites; there is an ever-changing line-up of special flavors such as dirty chocolate, ginger and carrot cake. Also popular are dairy-free sorbets (pear is top pick), sherbet (made with less cream that regular ice cream) and gelato (made with less butter-fat than regular ice cream.) What makes Bev’s tops on my list is the fact that this is Bev’s only store in the country. The ice cream is never more than a day old and is made in-house from local fresh ingredients.
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