The Best Frozen Custard in Los Angeles, Part 3

On today’s agenda: BinnieLoco. This custard stand is not really in Hollywood (as I previously stated). It’s in Koreatown near the intersection of 3rd Street and Vermont. I live near downtown Culver City, so the trip to BinnieLoco was kind of a haul. And was I ever dismayed to discover that it’s closed on Sundays for “worship.” Why is “worship” in quotes? Because as I sadly looked through the window into the darkened dessert store, an old Korean man unlocked the door and said, “Sorry. We closed today for worship” (See? I told you). He continued, “What did you come for? The custard?”

My companion (the guy in the fedora) said, “Yeah. We’re here for the custard. Is it good?” The old man said, “Yes. Good – very very goooood!” Needless to say, this guy’s giddy enthusiasm makes me want to return on a non-Sunday to see what they have to offer.

Which brings me to the other interesting thing that happened today. I received a comment-moderation notice for my previous post, The Best Frozen Custard in Los Angeles, Part 2. And the comment was from none other than the owner of Silky Smooth Ultra Creamery. It seems that my preference for Lucky Devils’ soft-serve-style custard was not well-received. And I have to admit that Silky Smooth has geniune, Midwesten, extrusion-style custard, and Lucky Devils does not.

Point taken, and I intend to return to give it another try. In fact, I put the owner up to the challenge of hosting me and my stomach for a custard-tasting. I have to admit that the phrase “frozen custard” seems to be retail poision among yogurt-obsessed Angelinos, so I can appreciate the challenge of keeping this king of frozen desserts alive. I have posted the original comment and my response below. More to come as my custard quest continues.

Before posting the custard correspondence, I should note that Silky Smooth’s owner has stated that they have the only true frozen custard in the entire state of California. If that’s true, my quest very well might begin and end at The Beverly Center (shiver).

The original comment:

As the owner of Silky Smooth (and a fellow St Louisan–Parkway South), I want to thank you for braving your “favorite place on earth”, the lovely Beverly Center, to share our passion for genuine frozen custard. I, too grew up on Ted Drewes & White Castles, hence our product offerings. We appreciate your initial glowing review, but were surprised that you felt a soft-serve product was superior to the genuine extrusion product we share with Ted Drewes. Nothing on earth compares to the extrusion product when it is made and served fresh, so I must invite you to return and have a cone “right off the ribbon” just like Ted’s and you will be in frozen custard heaven, I guarantee it! We have many ex-St Louisans & Midwesterners driving up to 80 miles each week to indulge in our unique-to-California genuine midwest frozen custard (our mix is imported from Wisconsin!) and you must try our truly unique Custard/Gelato Fusion Flavors like Chocolate, Coffee, and Pistachio! Plus, we make a killer black and white concrete “SilkyWhip” (vanilla+chocolate+gourmet chocolate syrup), just like I used to be addicted to at Ted Drewes. After all, with a name like Silky Smooth, our texture has to be the very best! No soft serve can compare…

PS–Our location may not be ideal, but it is all we can do right now. If you truly enjoy genuine extrusion-style (Ted Drewes) 1.4% egg-yolk frozen custard, we are basically the only one still in business in the whole state of California. The rest are airy, soft-serve types like McDonalds or Dairy Queen. Not in the same league as the real deal. Be sure to spread the word about us…your negative attitude toward our location, combined with fro-yo mania in LA, means you may never see genuine frozen custard in LA ever again if we don’t make it. Why? Because the word “custard” has killed EVERY attempt to sell frozen custard in California over the past 20 years!! I know nearly all of the victims personally, despite most offering a really good product, many lost their homes and families with their sad stories. And, every one of them told me that if they had it to do all over again, they would have never called it “frozen custard”. That is why we changed our name to “Ultra Creamery” in 2005. After 4 years in the Beverly Center with steady growth ever since changing our name, they opened that froyo place next door just a week ago to try and put us out of business. Most Angeleno “yogurtheads” HATE all types of ice cream now, so we need ALL dedicated ice cream/custard/gelato fanatics in LA to experience the truly luxurious and healthy (90% fat free, all natural and Kosher) treat known as Silky Smooth. Your good faith and support is greatly appreciated!

My reply:

Hi “Silky Smooth” (What is your name?) -

Thanks for your comment on my post. As a food blogger, it’s easy to fall into a dismissive routine where I’m blase about the latest place I am reviewing. I sometimes forget about the people behind all the hard work that leads to a restaurant’s existence. Therefore, I appreciate your reminding me – perhaps a bit defensively – but reminding me nonetheless. As I’m sure you know as well as anyone, the enjoyment of any dining experience, be it frozen custard, a burger, or a fine steak, is as much about the atmosphere and state of mind as it is about the food. Your location is far from ideal, as far as I’m concerned. And though I appreciate that The Beverly Center might not be your first choice, the fact remains. Eating a dessert under unflattering lighting while surrounded by people laden with branded shopping bags from middle-class meccas has a negative impact on the experience.

Despite my initial misgivings about Silky Smooth’s being the best custard game in town, you have passionately inspired me to give it another try. It is my intention to write a full review of every custard or “custard” stand I try during this quest, and I think it’s only fair that I should return to try the varied concoctions of which you are obviously proud. So, are you interested in personally introducing me to some of your other fare? Do you ever work behind the counter? If not, would you be willing to host me for half an hour (or so) and show me around your offerings? I would love to meet another foodie who is at least as passionate about good food as I am.

Sincerely,
Drew Hubbard

A message from Chuck:

Hi Drew,

My name is Chuck, and I welcome you back to our store to experience all we have to offer. Best time to meet would be a weekday…and choose your very favorite flavor that we will make a point to run fresh while you watch (we make far more flavors than Ted (vanilla only) or most midwest custard stands (typically 3), so our process is quite laborious and time-consuming…but all worth it to see a first-timer’s eyes light up and a big WOW!! smile.
Our daily flavors are vanilla, chocolate, coffee, strawberrry, pistachio and/or mint chocolate chip, plus low-carb no sugar added vanilla & chocolate, plus 4 different dairy-free but amazingly smooth whole fruit sorbets!
You may not have noticed the other unique feature of our shop–the fact we are the only HFCS-free Soda Shop in LA with all the most popular soft drinks–Coke, Pepsi, Sprite, 7-Up, etc imported from Belgium and Mexico–Pure Cane Sugar in glass bottles–great way to wash down those sliders, or the best Coke float in the world! I travel a lot, have tasted the best soft drinks (and ice cream/gelato/frozen custard) worldwide, and refuse to sell the HFCS crap that is a plague on America…

As far as our atmosphere, sure its not ideal, but, unlike Pinkberry, I do not have a $27Million budget from Starbucks…at least we have nice tables & chairs downstairs in front of Apple & Ferrari with free WiFi, great people watching, and not the typical zoo-like atmosphere of a mall food court –so things could be worse. We wish we were not in that mall too, but we must make the best of it.

So, hopefully we can meet in person this week or next!

Look forward to meeting you,
Chuck

So I said:

Hi Chuck -

Thanks again for you reply. Would it be OK with you for me to post your latest email to my blog? I think it’s remarkable and interesting for a business owner to so thoroughly engage his patrons. I also think it’s cool that you are anti-high-fructose-corn-syrup. I have to admit that I only noticed Mexican Coke and not the other sodas. And I happen to agree with you that HFCS is a scourge on America. Your affinity for unique sodas must mean that you know about Galco’s Soda Pop Stop. It’s one of my favorite places to take an out of town guests.

When we meet, I’ll bring a snapshot camera for some photos if that’s OK with you. I have to tell you that what you’re doing right now (participation in online conversations) is absolutely awesome. So from a blogger to a business owner, keep up the good work on that front.

Thanks!
Drew Hubbard

Chuck:

Hi Drew…we are on! As far as posting my letter, you can post it.

And, be sure to link www.silkysmoothcreamery.com, our newer website that functions better than the older one.

See you soon!
Chuck

PS–Bring some Lion’s Choice Roast Beef Sandwiches and you’ll be hero for a day!

Me:

Hi Chuck -

I’m looking forward to our meeting. Thanks for the invitation. As for flavors, I guess I would like to try strawberry. Vanilla is the only flavor I’ve ever had, so strawberry will be a new experience for me. All other flavors I have ever tried have been made with a vanilla custard base mixed with syrups and/or other ingredients.

Thanks,
Drew

We’ll see how the custarding goes. More to come…

Now Read Part 4 —>