by Sharon Cullars

Created on: July 05, 2009   Last Updated: July 21, 2009

When it comes to ice cream lovers, there are those who don't venture too far from the standard vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. Oh, they might occasionally go for a butter pecan or get a little audacious and try a Cherry Garcia, even. And for most, these flavors are fine. But for the truly adventurous ice cream lover, store-bought brands can be . . . well . . . a bit lackluster.

Luckily for the Chicago ice cream aficionado, there are places one can go to try some truly offbeat flavors. Just how offbeat? Well, imagine biting into a Fat Elvis, a melange of banana ice cream, peanut butter ripple, and liquid chocolate chips. Or indulging in a scoop of Blue Moon, which some liken to Fruit Loops. These are just two of the original flavors patrons can get at Zanzibar, located in the Bryn Mawr Historic District of the Edgewater neighborhood. Although Zanzibar offers a broader menu, it is the ice cream that receives rave reviews.

Another hot spot . . . rather make that cold spot . . . Chicagoans can get some truly exotic flavors is Vosges Haut-Chocolat, where the ice cream menu features four weird but fun concoctions. The options are really out there: Naga, a combination of Indian curry (yes, you read that right) and coconut; Pandan, composed of pandan leaf extract, pine nut, and dark chocolate; Red Fire, a blend of red chilies, Ceylon cinnamon and again, dark chocolate; and the tamer Wattleseed, a mixture of hazelnut, chocolate, vanilla, and coffee. Originated by chocolatier Katrina Markoff, Vosges is located on Armitage Avenue and is a popular spot for those looking for something out of the ordinary.

Bobtail Ice Cream Company on North Broadway offers the Lakeview Bar Hopper, a blend of chocolate and Jack Daniels, as well as the Signature Sunset, a merlot-flavored ice cream with a healthy helping of chocolate chips. Obviously, these flavors are not for the teetotaler. Other menu items include Daley Addiction (vanilla with butter fudge swirl, apparently a hat's off to Chicago's mayor) and Cubby Crunch (vanilla with Oreo sprinkles, chocolate chips and toffee). Patrons swear that Bobtail's is worth the calories.

For the do-it-yourself crowd, the Fairmont Chicago Hotel has created a program where guests can order creations customized to their tastes. Any flavor is fair game, even avocados and potato chips. Just to make sure their fantasy blends make culinary sense, guests can consult with the executive chef who is on hand to offer some savory advice. Locals can

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