Dinner at home with the Grandparents, who we are staying with until we save enough money to get a place of our own. My fiancé and I moved to Los Angeles about a month ago for her job.

Meals here are from scratch, unpretentious and delicious. Tonight, penne tossed with fresh mozzarella, basil and sautéd cherry tomatoes.

I think we’re getting spoiled.

My long night of envy can end…

The Coolhaus ice cream sandwhich truck. Choose your ice cream, choose your cookie. I.M. Pei-nut-butter ice cream with a potato chip & Skor bar cookie.

At Carmela in Pasadena, CA. Some of the most finely wrought ice cream and sorbet flavors I’ve found anywhere.

Aaaaand we’re back… to Carmela, of course.

Salted caramel: incredible. Mellow yet rich. Juuust on the border between salty and sweet. Better than my up-‘till-now favorite from San Francisco’s Bi-Rite Creamery (yes, my SF Bay peeps, I’m afraid it’s true).

Intelligentsia Coffee: another beautifully crafted classic and another example of what appears to be a Carmela signature.

I’m sure there’s a ton of sugar in these flavors — it’s ice cream, after all — but none of the flavors are cloying. Balance. That’s the word. The flavors are gelato intense, the texture is ice cream soft.

And there are more flavors to try…

The truck ...

... the sandwhich

Damn you, L.A. You’re getting so many cool mobile food options. Cool Haus: “architecturally inspired” ice cream sandwhiches. Whatever you say. Looks delicious.