Licking Up High Road’s Factory Tour & Tasting

I am not a homebody, and admit that I suffer from a bit of shpilkes on the weekends. I find myself constantly running around town trying to engage My Little Foodies with different activities. Of course, there are the typical go-tos like the Aquarium, Atlanta Zoo, and Fernbank, among others, that we regularly frequent with annual memberships that pay for themselves multiple times over. There are many times, however, that I strive to find something more off the beaten path.

The menu board features regular flavors and often one-of-a-kinds!

That’s why I was so excited to learn about High Road Craft Ice Cream & Sorbet’s Tasting Room and Factory Tour not too long ago. I thought My Little Foodies—particularly Big A—would be entertained by a behind the scenes tour of their (and almost every kid’s) most beloved treat! High Road has become one of My Little Foodies favorite ice creams, and we typically purchase this decadent treat (at Whole Foods among other retailers) for special occasions. Recently, I discovered that High Road’s factory opens to the public for tours and tastings on Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm.

Generous samples

Upon arrival, Nicki Schroeder, High Road’s Chief Marketing Officer and wife of Chef Keith Schroeder, happily introduced us to a multitude of flavors with more than generous samples. Big A could barely contain her excitement as she sampled almost every flavor in the case. Creamy Nutella and fresh, crisp Red Berries & Prosecco disappeared in the blink of an eye. Little A didn’t object to licks of the Bourbon Burnt Sugar (I think the alcohol had been cooked off, but he did take a good nap post-tasting) and Brown Butter Praline. Many of the flavors sold at the factory store can also be found at your local Whole Foods or Fresh Market, but I was excited to snatch up some of the restaurant extras that make this tasting room so unique.

Big A stylin’ her hair net for the factory tour

Before going retail, High Road started creating ice creams for many well-known restaurants in town. Special flavors arose from collaborations with restaurants such as Seed (Thai Tea) and Rumi’s Kitchen (Persian and Hibiscus). These special flavors, which are only available from the factory store, are worth the factory visit. Just think how special your next dinner party or birthday party will be with flavors that nobody else is serving. On this trip, we took home the Fig & Balsamic and tangy Hibiscus sorbet; we demolished both in short order.

The inner workings of High Road

The other highlight for My Little Foodies (at least for Big A; Little A melted early and hung out in the car with Daddy) was the factory tour. Big A and I donned our hair nets like little cafeteria ladies before we took a brief tour and learned how High Road pasteurizes, pours, and packages their delectable flavors. We even had a chance to taste some fresh ice cream right out of the machine.

Take home pints

Be sure to keep an eye out for this budding creamery in the community; High Road’s husband and wife team have been generous participants in recent food festivals, including Field of Greens and Taste of Atlanta. They’ve also just opened a new retail shop in the Sweet Auburn Curb Market.