Whenever we visit Austin, TX we typically make a trip (or two) to Lick. They serve paleo-friendly ice cream and source their ingredients as locally as possible. When we hear people are heading to Austin we always recommend they make a stop there as well so it was inevitable that we add them to our paleo restaurant recommendations here on Paleo Porn.
This is a guest post by Alison Ver Halen. Alison is a novelist and a long time member of the Paleo Chicago Meetup group. As a life-long foodie, she has found Paleo to be a great way to stay healthy while enjoying delicious food.
Enter Alison
Living a Paleo lifestyle starts with eating real, whole foods, and Lick is right there with us.
I know what you’re thinking. How can an ice cream shop be Paleo-friendly?
Lick: Honest Ice Creams
2032 South Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX 78704
For those of us following the 80/20 rule, paleo ice cream definitely fits into the 20% of food and drink that’s pure indulgence.
Dairy can be included as part of a Paleo lifestyle, depending on your tolerance, and although sugar is not strictly Paleo, it can be OK as an occasional indulgence.
Not Your Typical Ice Cream
The problem with most ice cream is it’s more than just cream and sugar.
There are all sorts of additives, flavorings, emulsifiers, and stabilizers, many of which are unrecognizable. As if that weren’t bad enough, many places use high-fructose corn syrup instead of any natural or recognizable sources of sugar.
Not Lick. These folks care about quality, and it shows.
They know exactly where their cream comes from (a local dairy in Central Texas) and everything is handmade in the shop.
They churn and pack their own ice cream and all the extras (sauces, cones, etc.) are all made by hand in the shop. The result is some of the best ice cream I’ve ever had.
All The Many Flavors of Lick
They’re not afraid to play around with unusual flavor combinations.
Olive oil, avocado, and beets are just some of the less common flavors you’ll find at Lick.
I wasn’t brave enough to venture into this territory on my first visit, but I kind of wish I had.
When I make it back to Austin, I’ll definitely be sure to try some of the more unique flavors.
I tried the Caramel Salt Lick and the Hill Country Honey and Vanilla Bean (which uses local honey as the sweetener) and oh man was I in heaven! This ice cream was sweet, smooth, creamy, and flavorful. It was everything ice cream should be.
Any Negatives?
My only complaint was the portion size.
Considering how much you pay for this artisan ice cream, the scoops are pretty small.
But, you pay for quality, and the quality is definitely there.
Dairy Free Options
If you don’t do dairy, don’t worry. Lick has some pretty awesome dairy-free flavors that are coconut milk based.
They have fewer dairy-free flavors, but they’re definitely just as tasty. The dairy-free flavors include Tart Toasted Coconut, Coconut and Avocado Curd, and Coconut, Peanut Butter and Chocolate Swirl.
Some of these flavors contain eggs, so if you’re avoiding eggs for any reason, be sure to look for the labels on each card that list their ingredients and choose the flavors that are specifically advertised as “vegan”.
Lick does a great job of labeling for allergens and if you want to give any (or all of) the flavors a taste, just say the word and they’ll give you a tiny spoonful.
Tell Them Paleo Porn Sent Ya!
Next time you’re in Austin, we highly recommend you give Lick a try.
This was my first time in Austin (and my first time at Lick) but Marla and Jeff have been here several times in the past and they have tasted many of the different flavors.
Are you interested in more Paleo friendly restaurants? Have a recommendation of someplace we should check out? Let us know!
Lick: Honest Ice Creams
2032 South Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX 78704
