Two Shops, Made Your Way

Two different counters, one idea: choose a shop for what it makes. The first pick turns ice cream preparation into something to watch; the second centers custom and specialty pizza. They are in San Francisco and Alexandria, Virginia, respectively: separate-city discoveries, not a single outing.

On Clement Street, Let's Roll Ice Creamery makes Thai-style rolled ice cream to order on sub-zero metal plates. Liquid base and mix-ins are chopped and blended, then scraped into neat rolls. The preparation stays in view, making the process as much a reason to choose this dessert shop as the finished cup.

On Little River Turnpike in Alexandria, Pizzato Pizza - Alexandria pairs custom and specialty pizzas with wings and other selections. The appeal here is a different kind of made-to-order choice: choose a specialty pie or make the pizza your own. It is a savory counterpoint to the rolled-ice-cream pick, in a different city.

These additional picks belong to their own cities, not one itinerary. Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine in Oakland pairs regional Thai cooking with a flower-filled setting. Don Gallopinto Nicaraguan restaurant in Burien focuses on homestyle classics, including gallopinto and plantains. Genova Pizza in Alexandria brings together daily-made dough, specialty pies, subs and calzones.

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