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"Tara's Organic Ice Cream, just off the corner of College and Alcatraz in [Berkeley], has a new addition to their menu: the gluten-free brownie ice cream sandwich. Mariposa Bakery, a gluten-free bakery in Oakland, provides the brownies for these sweet treats. The brownies are about half an inch thick. Add a filling of ice cream, and it is a mouthful of "chocolatey," creamy goodness.…."
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East Bay Express 2009 "Best of Restaurants and Bars"
"You may need a translator to fully appreciate Tara's unforgettable flavors, from Adzuki Black Sesame to Yerba Santa. This New Mexico transplant brought her eco-friendly business to Oakland in 2008 and, boy, are we glad to have her. Stepping into Tara's, you'll often find the owner behind the counter wearing a sunny smile and a bright bandana to match. These ice creams sing with the essence of everything from Bay Laurel (a must-try!) to Pink Peppercorn. Don't be surprised to find yourself slack-jawed in front of the case, trying one spoonful after another. Even in the ice-cream-saturated market that is the East Bay, Tara's takes it to a whole new level. The flavors pack a punch, but the impact on the environment is minimal. Tara's uses compostable cups made from sugarcane, spoons made from potato starch, and all-recycled paper products. Handmade cones, including the don't-miss version with sesame seeds folded into the batter, also shine. Available flavors — all seasonal — are posted daily on Facebook, if you want to know what you'll find before stepping into this ice-cream wonderland. Not a bad idea, since you might need to consult a reference book to determine what your options really are."
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Photo: Paul Chinn / The Chronicle |
"No matter the weather, now's the time for ice cream, gelato and sorbet. Summer's fruit is at its peak and Bay Area artisan ice cream makers are turning the produce into impressive frozen concoctions….
…Here are some of the latest…."
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They consider Tara's Organic Ice Cream one of the 14 Best Ice Creams in the country!
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Photo: Oakland Magazine |
Oakland Magazine
Smorgasbord, November 2008
Exotic Organic Ice Cream and New Pizza Treats:
Tara Esperanza was making art in New Mexico when she was given an ice cream maker. She started experimenting in her kitchen. Friends were blown away. She made more ice cream. Flavors became her palate. Ice cream became her art form. An ice cream shop in Santa Fe became her taste-treat gallery with creations such as adzuki black sesame, goat cheese raspberry, hibiscus agave, chocolate tarragon and many more. Lucky for us, Tara and her artist and handyman husband, Raciel, decided to settle in Oakland earlier this year and open a second ice cream shop, Tara’s Organic Ice Cream—in Berkeley’s Elmwood district… Read full article
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Food Network's Road Tasted with the Neelys
"Desert Desserts in Santa Fe" August 12 -24, 2008
Pat and Gina find desert-inspired culinary works of art in America's oldest state capital. First stop, Tara's Organic Ice Cream.... Watch the segment on YouTube
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Blog: Fake Plastic Fish...
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Tara's Organic Ice Cream: their trash can is empty!
Michael was terribly excited last week to tell me that a new shop had opened in our neighborhood combining two of our biggest passions: ice cream and zero waste. "You have to come see and bring your camera so you can write about it!" He's not often so emphatic about what I post on my blog, so I figured this must be serious! Read the full post and view the photos...
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Food & Wine Magazine
best of local flavors, August 2008
New Mexico:
Tara's Organic Ice Cream
Santa Fe's Tara Esperanza has won a cult following (including Wrede) for inventive all-natural ice creams like cherry fudge and chocolate tarragon; in [August] she opens a California outpost in Berkeley.
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The Inside Scoop
Big Apple restaurateurs head for S.F.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
...Berkeley's Elmwood area will have a new place to curb their ice cream cravings come mid-July, when the first Bay Area location of Tara's Organic Ice Cream opens a few blocks down (3173 College Ave.).
The original Tara's has been doling out scoops in Santa Fe, N.M., for the past two years. In line with the Bay Area sensibility, the frozen treats use certified organic ingredients, materials are environmentally friendly and compostable, and even the flavors are a little left of center.
Owner Tara Esperanza has created lemongrass, chocolate tarragon, garam masala and kaffir lime to serve on handmade cones. Those with less adventurous palates will have all the usual suspects to choose from.
In the bright orange and purple shop, customers can also order smoothies or shakes, or try the handmade fudge and caramel. Ice cream prices will range from $2-$5, and pints will be available for purchase....
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National Geographic Adventure Magazine
The Secret Southwest, March 2008
from {14 Secrets of the Southwest}
# 3 Eat Rosemary Ice Cream
"Tara's Organic, NEW MEXICO >
Tara Esperanza, owner of Tar's Organic in downtown Santa Fe finds inspiration for her Willy Wonka-like ice cream flavors by running into New Mexico's wilds. her latest all-natural treat started with a whiff of trailside rosemary, which she later combined with caramelized pear and allspice. "It's heavenly," she says (we agree.) her ingredients, like her inspiration, are locally sourced: Lavender comes from Los Poblanos out of Albuquerque, and green chilies from the Santa Cruz Farm in Espanola. The effect is transportive. "Try a scoop of sage," says Esperanza. "It's like you're off in the nearby mountains."
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Sweet Ideas for Cupid
Gifts that reach a valentine's heart by way of the stomach
"Tara's Organic Ice Cream
"The label on Tara's Organic Ice Cream reads "a divine indulgence," and these Santa Fe-made all-natural and all-organic sorbets, granitas and creams aptly honor the Hindu goddess of purity and compassion for whom Tara and her concoctions are named. Perfect for artistic valentines who require gentler wooing and appreciate attention to detail.
Tara's flavors elevate ice cream beyond the ordinary sweet...For Valentine's, shop owner Tara Esperanza plans a romantic strawberry-rose ice cream... Pick up a pint, or splurge on a dozen..."
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IN CONTEXT
a PBS show out of Austin, TX interviewed Tara about her creativity
Watch the interview on YouTube
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edible SANTA FE, Number 4
Summer 2007, page 31
Frozen Assets:
Every body Loves Tara's Organic Ice Cream
by Barbara Gerber
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New Mexico Business Weekly - Small Business Strategies
July 27, 2007
by Laura Paskus
Owner won't melt under stress of ice cream niche business
"Tara Esperanza has learned that it's possible to keep your cake and eat it, too -- or rather, keep your ice cream and eat it, too.
As owner of Tara's Organic Ice Cream, Esperanza still uses friends as guinea pigs for tasting new flavors, which include lemongrass, ginger caramel, basil, peach agave sorbet and even garam masala. Altogether she makes some 50 different flavors, which customers can buy in her retail shop, pick up from some twenty different stores throughout Taos, Santa Fe and Albuquerque, or even order for home delivery."
-New Mexico Business Weekly - Small Business Strategies
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Organic Spa Magazine
Summer 2007 (page 23)
Ice Cream Dreams (use the "Go To Page" option in the top left corner to Go To Page 23 to read the article!)
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Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year 2006!
Award given by WESST Corp and PNM
 The Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year 2006, Tara Esperanza is owner of Tara’s Organic Ice Cream in Santa Fe. Tara began her business at home after receiving an ice cream maker as a housewarming gift. Now, Esperanza sells her unique desert through a retail shop that opened in May and in stores like Whole Foods, La Montanita Coop, 10,000 Waves and the Tesuque Village Market. The ice cream is made with certified organic products and features unique flavors like basil, orange cashew and white pepper chocolate chip.
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From the Santa Fean's new dining section June 2006:
"Some people will always be diehard chocolate or vanilla fans," admits the wizard behind Tara's Organic Ice Cream, "but most people are intrigued by what we offer." Tara Esperanza "literally dreams up" delectable flavors such as Mango Ginger, Blueberry Mint, Turkish Coffee, and White Pepper Chocolate Chip. Find Tara's ice cream and sorbets at area markets, at restaurants..., and at her scoop shop on hip Second Street, across the lot from Cloud Cliff Bakery...." -- Lynn Cline
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From allbusiness.com Oct 20, 2005 issue:
"Tara's
gets organic in New Mexico".
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From a review of the Whole Body Cafe
"Whole Body's most exciting dessert offering is Tara's
Organic Ice Cream. Tara Esperanza, a self-described ice
cream addict, began selling her small-batch, all-organic
ice creams in local stores and restaurants...It is the bomb.
Go eat some. Now.
"Seriously, remember making ice cream
as a kid? Even your goopy vanilla soup kicked Dreyer's ass,
right? Well Tar's all grown up, she's got the technique
down and her flavors make vanilla seem so... vanilla.
"I tried to get a cup of the garam
masala flavor, but they were sold out, so I went for lemongrass
instead ($3.95 for an 8oz. cup). Whoa! The first bite delivered
a blast of lemongrass so intense I thought I'd get sick
of it quick. Nope. Self-restrained Kelly had a few bites
and I polished off the rest of the cup. It was rich, creamy,
perfect. Kelly had to restrain me from ordering more..."
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Albuquerque Tribune August 29, 2005
"Tara's
unique flavors are cream of the crop"
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The free New Mexican May 10, 2005
Featured in the cover of the Business Section
"Ice
Cream Dreams"
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"We live in St. Louis, Missouri. Before our trip to Santa Fe, we read about
Tara's Organic in Adventure magazine, which recommended Tara's ice cream
and stated that one of the flavors was heavenly. So, on August 3, 2008, my
wife, son and I with article in hand, visited Tara's Organic. We found
your ice cream shop to be quaint and the hospitality to be warm and
friendly. But the ice cream. Oh my goodness! We sampled the lavender,
mango ginger, coconut, spiced pumpkin, strawberry sorbet and lemon grass.
They were all wonderful. Yes indeed...they were heavenly!"