Bluebird Scoops Up a Taste of Summer

By: Amie Simon | March 25 2011
Posted in Seattle - Find It - Seattle

Bluebird's creamy, delicious Oatmeal Cookies and Cream. Photo by: Amie Simon

Even though the temperature in Seattle is still under 50, springtime blooms are starting to appear, and a few sunshiny afternoons have left the city longing for hot summer days filled with icy patio drinks and triple scoops of ice cream. Buy why wait for June or July? Let Bluebird Homemade Ice Cream & Tea Room scoop up a taste of summer to brighten your day.

Built with high ceilings and fashioned from reclaimed furniture and salvaged materials, Bluebird's tea room is a cozy, inviting place with plenty of seating for people to lounge with a book, use their free wi-fi, and of course enjoy their fantastic ice cream treats. Also, check their blog for occasional free tickets to local film screenings and musical events.

Their menu is ever-changing, and each flavor is made from all-natural, sustainable, and organic ingredients - from local sources whenever possible. The beer used in their stout-flavored ice cream is from Seattle's Elysian Brewing Company, their coffee flavor is made with Stumptown beans, and they use Mighty-O vegan donuts in one of their sundaes. Their dairy also comes from hormone-free cows in Washington and Oregon, all their fruit is from suppliers in the Pacific Northwest. Creamy, delectable concoctions are made on site, and if you're lucky you'll catch them mid-batch to inhale unbelievably delicious smells coming from the back kitchen.

Flavors range from classic Vanilla Bean and fruit Sorbets to more inventive mixes like Chocolate Pudding (which tastes so much like pudding, you'll swear it's not ice cream), Coconut Mint Chip, and Horchata. We taste-tested the Snickerdoodle, which was a perfect blend of cinnamon spices and vanilla goodness, the Oatmeal Cookies and Cream: a heavenly blend of crunchy cookies and flavorful oats, and the Peanut Butter - just the right ratio of peanut butter to cream for an authentically smooth texture and taste.

The Afogado with a scoop of Chocolate Pudding.

If you're not feeling a plain scoop, you can also add toppings (like fresh fruit, house-made granola, hot fudge, sprinkles, cookie crumbs, corn flakes and more), or choose one of their suggested sundaes. The Bird's Nest sundae has three scoops of your choice rolled in granola, placed in a waffle nest, topped with fresh bananas and whipped cream, and then drizzled with honey and fudge. Yum! Or if you prefer a straw to a spoon, you can order a shake or a float.

Other items on the menu include a wide variety of loose-leaf teas brewed in an infuser at your table for full flavor, espresso drinks, sandwiches, salads, soups, and even pints of beer.

Insider tip: If you like coffee, try the Afogado: a scoop (or two) of Bluebird ice cream floating in a sea of espresso. It's the perfect remedy for a grey, rainy Seattle day. Swing by Bluebird's cafe at 1205 E. Pike Street on Capitol Hill, and they'll have you dreaming of warm weather in no time! 

Take a taste of some other Seattle treats:

On the Move: Parfait Ice Cream Truck

Pie: The New Cupcake in Seattle

Seattle's Sugar and Salt Kitchen is Makin' Bacon