The ice cream at Scoops is so tasty you want to curse. This is so #$%*# good! When a friend — inspired by our pot gelato posts — invited us for dessert at this ice cream/gelato/sorbet joint on Heliotrope just off Melrose, we were fired up. We had sampled gelato throughout our tour of Italy, and we were eager to try Scoops, which has received some big-time buzz in the past year. Our verdict? Except for this one place in Venice (Italy), Scoops was equal if not better.

The key is that the flavors are rich. It’s like having a rock concert on your taste buds. At first glance, many flavors sound like disgusting combinations. Blueberry/mascarpone? Bacon/caramel? Jenny tried the raspberry/balsamic vinegar and ended up ordering a scoop, which is in fact two scoops. Great gimmick. One = two. For her second scoop, she opted for the ginger.

The real test was the pistachio/rosewater. Pistachio had been our flavor of choice in Italy. How much of an enhancement was the rosewater? It’s tough to put a percentage on it because let’s face it, our experience with rosewater as a dessert ingredient is limited. But the pistachio/rosewater was excellent, and it also fueled our imagination.

How about strawberry/oolong? Fortunately for the creatively inclined, Scoops takes flavor suggestions on a greaseboard near the front of the store. We noticed Dr Pepper/cherry and mango/habanero among the nominations.

We arrived too late to taste the Brown Bread, apparently Scoops’ signature flavor. Even if we aren’t guaranteed Brown Bread on our next visit, we will still be clamoring to go and willing to make the crosstown drive just see what new concoctions are available. We’re late in catching on, but we will hustle to compensate for lost time. Would we be pressing our luck to wish for pizza/garlic? – Victor.

Jenny adds: This is, hands down, the best ice cream I have ever had. The ingredients are so fresh. If you’re a Westsider, it’s definitely worth the trip.

712 N. Heliotrope Drive, Los Angeles 90029. 323-906-2649. Cash only.