Review of Planet Earth at Van Leeuwen Ice Cream by kyu

Second photo is a #reviewwithaview from before the wildfires (I’m back in CA now.) I wrote the original text of the review (which you can find below) on the plane and kept going back and forth on whether to post it. There’s something especially bleak about blithely consuming Planet Earth as the real thing cries out for relief. I loved every moment in NYC, but I’ll be staying put for a while now. I took some time to reflect, and as much as I want to travel and enjoy my 20s, it just doesn’t feel responsible when the world is literally burning. #climatecrisis

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I don’t think my trip would be complete without a visit to Van Leeuwen, whose raved-about vegan #icecream has assumed an almost mythic quality in my mind. Fortunately, their shops are open late (until 1am on Friday and Saturday, or midnight all other days,) making it easy for even us time-zone-addled bums from the West Coast to get our fix.

The workers were so sweet and let me try a bunch of different flavors. After stacking up the sample spoons, I had to go with the stunning and unique Planet Earth (shoutout to @lizmaselli for putting it on my radar!) This vibrant, geological treat is certainly a feast for the eyes, with matcha cake crumbles folded into subtly blue-raspberry-flavored ice cream. The brilliant coloring — clearly crafted with social media in mind — is derived from blue spirulina.

My best friend (who isn’t vegan but has become acquainted with non-dairy options through lactose intolerance) ordered the vegan ginger cookie ice cream. We were both instantly floored by the creaminess of our #ditchdairy scoops — we sat there for a moment, wide-eyed and speechless, before agreeing that this was far and away the best vegan ice cream we’d ever tried. It was quite sweet, so one scoop was plenty for me. Folks with allergies/sensitivities should also be aware that the ultra-decadent base (cashew milk, coconut cream, and cocoa butter) contains tree nuts; many flavors also include gluten and/or soy.

Never have I ever paid $7.50 for a single scoop of ice cream before; despite blowing a hole in my wallet, though, it really was worth every penny to obtain a dessert of this caliber. Highly recommend treating yourself (to this or really any of their indulgent vegan offerings!)