We All Scream For Provo Ice Cream

There are some new kids on the block when it comes to Provo restaurants. Among those are two new specialty ice cream shops—Rockwell Ice Cream Co. and Roll With It Creamery.

Rockwell

Rockwell is old fashioned ice cream with new age vision. Great ingredients, interesting combinations, timeless flavors. The real magic of Rockwell though is that they are a seemingly classic ice cream shop selling ice cream that tastes interesting and different. You can taste the thought and care. To some people ice cream is ice cream, to Rockwell ice cream is more.

We had the Honeycomb ice cream which was BOMB. But like "eat a little bit very slowly" bomb and not "I'm going to eat four gallons of this" bomb because it tasted like rich, crunchy butterscotch. Definitely a quality over quantity thing. 

They also have lots of cool extras like graham cracker syrup and chocolate chip cookie cones. And if you follow them on Instagram (@rockwellicecream) you can stay updated on their specials—candied maple bacon, blood orange ice cream with kum quat and honey butterscotch swirl, dark chocolate with cherry balsamic swirl and star anise fudge brownies. Hello Rockwell, I agree with you.

This photo curtesy @EvanKirby2 

Roll With It

Roll With It Creamery is the more experiential brand of the two. They actually put an ice cream base on a frozen saucer, adding ingredients while your ice cream freezes in front of you. But the fun part is that this isn't a scoop place, it's a scrape place. After your ice cream is frozen they make an ice cream pancake and scrape it off. The ice cream rolls right up, hence the name. 

I tried and loved the lavender and honey, which is a little unfair because I'm all about all things lavender. In fact, I had such a high dose of lavender I was super chill all day. Lavender will do that to you. And for those of you who are uneasy about lavender and ice cream, A) you're wrong, and 2) they have all the classic cookies and cream like flavors as well.

I'm not sure if the shape does anything for the flavor, but it's unique. Great place for kids or dates. Although, keep in mind that it's a one size cup for $5. So maybe wait until the kids will really appreciate it. Or until you really appreciate your date (and until you know you'll get a little sugar yourself later, know what I'm sayin?).

There you have it! Now, treat yo self.

Kayla

Vito's Italian Ristorante

My mother and I recently ventured to Heber City in search of something interesting to eat. Through a series of what were seemingly misfortunate events, we ended up at Vito's Italian Ristorante in a state of acute hunger.

Upon entering, our seeming misfortune quickly dissipated. Vito's charm is enchanting and unexpectedly elegant. You know that feeling when you're expecting the norm, but suddenly you realize something special is happening? I call it "The Susan Boyle Effect." That's what I was feeling.

If you remember one thing I ever tell you—like ever—remember to order the mussels. Our lovely waitress informed us that we would "eat the sauce with a spoon." We ate the sauce with a spoon. In fact, we hid the dish after the mussels were gone so the waiters wouldn't take it away. It was buttery and smooth, yet zesty and alive. This is the sauce that Sookie St. James (Gilmore Girls) would serve with her mussels. And that is the highest compliment I am capable of giving at this point in my life.

Bruschetta, also good. However, I'm a big fan of mozzarella-less bruschetta, something about texture. 

Okay but the mozzarella with the caprese salad? Wow yum.

I couldn't eat the pear salad because of the candied walnuts (yes a food blogger allergic to food, tragic), but my mom said it was good.

The salmon was cooked perfectly, just like our waitress promised. But this combo was a little strange for me. It's either pineapple salsa and dry rice, or no salsa and risotto. All things separately were great, but together mismatched.

Lobster ravioli was the kind of dish you eat slowly with fluttering eyelids. The shrimp also gave it a nice break from the cream.

I would say stop by next time you're hungry in Heber, but let's be honest that could be years. So make the trip. The mussels are worth it.

Kayla

Wendy's Copycat Chili Recipe

I love me some Wendy's chili. That is—I loved  Wendy's chili—up until July 16, 2015. Then this happened:

Let's just say it was brown and took back its shape after I poked it. I thought the tweet would give them a chance to make amends, but alas, no reply.

So, I found my own. This is such an easy chili recipe and it will be perfect for all your chili needs. I found the original recipe here, but I've made a few changes.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 lb Ground Beef & Turkey
• 2 cans (30ish oz in total) Petite Diced Tomatoes in Juice
• 1 16 oz Kidney Beans drained
• 1 15 oz Pinto Beans drained
• 1 large Onion diced
• 1/2 cup Celery diced (4-5 stalks, your preference)
• 1 large Bell Pepper diced
• 3 tbsp Chili Powder
• 2 tsp Cumin
• 1 tsp Black Pepper
• 1 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Oregano
• 1 tsp Sugar
• 2 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1/2 c Tomato Paste (optional for texture)

Directions

1. I always start with onion. And here's a cool/easy way to dice it:

Make sure not to cut all the way through by the little onion nob, this way the onion will stay together while you're dicing.

2. Oil up a pan and throw in onions.

3. While the onions are cooking cut up the green pepper and throw that in as well.

4. After the onions and peppers begin to soften, add in your meat. I did about two pounds of ground beef and 1/4 pound of ground turkey. You need the beef for the flavor but I like to add turkey to make me feel better about eating it for 4 days straight. Don't forget to salt and pepper your meat here.

5. While that is all cooking finely slice the celery and throw it in the pot.

6. After meat is browned, add in tomatoes, beans, spices and herbs.

7. Simmer for 2-3 hours. If you're in a pinch it's ready once it's hot, but with chili the longer it sits the better it gets. Like a fine wine, I assume.

This is simple and perfect for your go-to recipe for chili. Everyone's got to have one. Enjoy!

Kayla

3 Fun Restaurants to Take a Date in Provo

If there's one place in the world that should have a multitude of great date spots it's Provo, we all know that. Funny thing is there are a multitude of great date spots that go unnoticed, unloved. "Fun date ideas" is the most Googled phrase. All the while we sit in the same old restaurants—day after day. Do you like this girl? Do you want this guy to think you have good taste? Then it's time we learn to date better, Provo. And by date better I mean eat better, always.

Now I want you to find your eternal companion as asap as possible. So here's a list of fun date spots that are more interesting than Zupas:

El Gallo Giro

This is always my go to. El Gallo is a great little Mexican restaurant on University. Inside is very cantina chic and it smells AMAZING. But the best part is the patio with the garden lights. Girls love garden lights, it reminds them of weddings. 

Suggestions: Order something you can eat with a fork. Tacos or nachos are messy and when you eat with your hands you have to really invest into each bite. Stick with something like sopes or enchiladas. Get the horchata but, if the conversation seems good, don't drink too much until after you're done eating. That way the conversation can keep going after you're done without it being weird. Oh and if you order the guacamole they come to your table and make it! Super cute and HELLOOOOO guacamole. 

Hruska's Kolaches

If you take a date here they will be impressed. Everything's good, it's beautiful and the food tastes like heaven. Here's the catch: they're open from 6:30 until whenever they sell out around noon. So the time of this date sits somewhere between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. 

So here's your options: 

1. Meet for breakfast. I actually did this here, it was v chill and no pressure. We both had to go somewhere kind of early that morning so we planned to meet there for about a half hour, great idea.
2. Take a hike. Go on a fun morning hike but stop by Hruska's before and grab some kolaches to-go.
3. Morning date chill. If by chance you find a girl who is going to be up and ready to date that early in the morning without complaining a little—A) wow—and take advantage of it. Go eat first (always eat first) then explore the stores next door! There's like 3 pawn shops, morning girl will love those pawn shops.

La Dolce Vita

The best part about La Dolce Vita for a date is that it's quiet. It's usually not very busy and it's a great place for conversation. So if you're not sure how the vibes will be, maybe steer clear. There's not a lot of distractions to disrupt silent pauses. However, this is a great second date spot. First dates should be quick, painless. If you're going to keep her longer than an hour she should be fed accordingly. First dates test vibes. If you already know the vibe situation, feel free to skip to step 2. Second dates, are for longer conversation. If she lets you in again, there's a possibility she's interested but she's still testing the waters. Take her here to really see if things are good. If you really click, this is a fast track to date #3 that actually means something. (Pure Kayla doctrine, I'm usually right but I'm not so prideful that I will deny the possibility of exceptions.) But order soup not salad, the soup is better and eating salad looks weird when you're talking.

Hopefully these will get you to at least date three, where you should be fine on your own. Just call me Hitch and I accept checks.

Good luck,

Kayla