review - Sloan's Ice Cream at Westfield Topanga

Los Angeles
The Village at Westfield Topanga

6250 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Suite 1560
Los Angeles, CA
818-453-3500
Sun-Thurs 8AM-11:00PM
Fri-Sat 8AM-12AM

“Simply put, we created Sloan’s to be a dreamland for everyone, kids and adults of all ages. Our focus has never changed. In fact, we just keep enhancing the experience and now we’re ready to immerse even more people in the Sloan’s brand,” said Sloan Kamenstein, founder, owner and a classically trained chef who honed his craft at London’s Le Cordon Bleu culinary school and trained in kitchens throughout France. “One taste, sniff and glimpse of Sloan’s sends the senses soaring. The time has come to share Sloan’s yumminess beyond South Florida.” - Sloan's Ice Cream.

You know that giddy, childlike feeling of excitement that comes over you when you see something you cannot resist? Well, that's what hit me when I entered Sloan's Thursday afternoon. Piled high on shelves to the right are stuffed dogs, bears, ducks, sea otters and other creatures of various colors and sizes. There's even a life-sized zebra near the restroom. Also on the right is a huge candy display where you may watch an employee make homemade fudge - which, by the way, is to die for - and candy caramel apples. I haven't seen those since I was about 5 or 6 years old. To the left are homemade brownies, cookies and donuts - and then the piece de resistance - the ice cream stand with a multitude of flavors including Birthday, which is made from real birthday cake.

Store manager Rachael Aguon was on hand to give me and my friend a grand tour. She explained that the first store was built in West Palm Beach, Florida in 1999 by Le Cordon Bleu graduate Sloan Kamenstein and that the store is primarily of pink decor because his mother adored pink. Sloan and one partner make all the ice cream and pastries by hand and ship the ice cream to California in special trucks once a month. So it is made in the home base of Florida, and boy oh boy, is it distinctive: rich luxurious texture, real buttery, with all good ingredients. Birthday tastes like real birthday cake, because, as I mentioned above, birthday cake is frozen and then mixed into the batch. You can taste the smooth texture of the yellow cake and the frosting - no kidding! Pretty Rachael is out here from Florida to help oversee the new store at Westfield Topanga. She knows her stuff and makes you feel right at home. She loves her work, and it shows in spades. 

Doggie Treats

 We were treated to scoops of ice ream - my friend had a luscious hot fudge sundae and I sampled the birthday as well as black and white malt which has real malted milk balls throughout. She then proceeded to bring over a chocolate chunk cookie and a sea salt caramel brownie, both of which I saved for later. The chocolate is plentiful and melts in your mouth, and the brownie is so rich I must have gained a pound just from smelling it.

There are over 30 flavors. Talk about Baskin Robbins. No, don't! Sloan's is far better. I'm a fudge lover and so I chose a few flavors to purchase. Rachael gave it to me as a gift. How sweet is that! It is some of the best fudge I have ever eaten - chocolate raspberry, chocolate peanut butter, cookies and cream...and birthday cake! Rich, smooth, creamy, just like the ice cream: makes a great gift for your friend or relative especially with the holidays right around the corner. Another great item at Sloan's are doggie treats. That's right, you may purchase little cookie treats - not chocolate, of course, as chocolate is bad for animals - but made out of pure ingredients that our four-legged friends just crave.

I had heard that I must check out the bathroom at Sloan's. (see photo above) Spoiler alert! Well, no, you'll still find it fun. You can be seen through the window. For privacy, all you have to do is lock the door and the window fogs over.

Sloan's is for kids of all ages. It's a super fantasyland a la Willy Wonka...and the treats are all fresh, homemade and delectable, and all at moderate prices. Who could ask for anything more? While you're there, check out the rest of the exciting Westfield Topanga mall. It's a thoroughly satisfying experience on a pleasant sun-filled California day!