On September 13th, the Maclure Library Cookbook Club hit the road for an excursion to lu•lu ice cream in Vergennes.

Owner and ice cream chef Laura Mack gave us a warm welcome and ushered us into her workspace.

We learned about the many facets of ice cream production, the history of lu•lu, and how Laura became the ice cream designer she is today.

We were invited to crack may eggs in preparation for making a custard, which is the foundation of all lu•lu products. (No commercial base is used in any lu•lu ice cream.)

We then sampled a freshly churned coconut milk-mango dessert before it went into a blast freezer, which rapidly freezes the mixture to help preserve its smooth texture. Everyone agreed that it was super delicious!

After the presentation, members returned to the retail space to choose — and of course, eat — some treats.

Some members ordered coffee and cookies; some purchased hand-packed pints to bring home; others sat with dishes or cones, savoring the flavors. 

The ice cream shop collaborates with, and is inspired by, local farmers. Often Laura will develop a flavor based on what farms have available.

If you haven’t yet been to lu•lu, it is well worth the drive. We had fun and are grateful to Laura for hosting our group.