Balsamic Fig Mascarpone aka "Eric Owen-meal Moss-carpone" was the first prepackaged Coolhaus pint I got my hands on when it became available locally over the summer. The brand's creative flavors and marketing style are very inviting, and I was excited to give their products a try.
Once the slow melting base breaks down, the mild yet potent mascarpone flavor shines through . Ribbons of sweet, tangy balsamic glazed figs are skillfully and somewhat sparsely interwoven throughout the impressively smooth base.
What is omitted from the production video is the inclusion of stabilizers and the batch freezing that takes place to scale production. This is a common aspect of non-artisanal commercial ice cream production. The tradeoff between the modest calorie count in these pints is that you have a relatively high overrun, stabilized product. That said, many similarly processed products by competitors fall far short of this.
Something about this kept me coming back. My cupboard reveals a few of these plastic pint containers, undeniable evidence of my affinity. For those concerned about the balsamic element adding a strong acidity, don't worry, it's only enough to add a bit of tanginess.
Where Elliot Found It: Straub's Market
Elliot's Grade: B
