![Diners enjoy brunch outside Hatched in Town & Country Village on Saturday morning. The restaurant, which opened in January, is Palo Alto’s second Hatched location and focuses on egg-centric breakfast and lunch options in an area that previously lacked breakfast spots. Manager Craighton Poon said the restaurant has been well-received by the community. “People are receiving us [Hatched] really, really good and it’s pretty busy every day,” Poon said.](https://chompmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_1052-1200x800.jpg)
![SERVING ICE CREAM A perfect ice cream after waiting in Salt and Straw’s long line. The newly released
flavors draw in large crowds each month. Store manager Pedro Vargas witnesses them first hand.
“Normally there’s a big crowd around here ... Fridays [and] Saturdays are our busiest days,” Vargas said.](https://chompmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-20-at-1.33.43-PM-1200x799.png)
The renowned Salt and Straw ice cream parlor that sits on University Avenue in downtown Palo Alto releases limited-edition flavors each month, which are famously known for containing exotic combinations such as pear and blue cheese, strawberry and black pepper, or chocolate and potato chips. From the outside, the sweet smell of ice cream is easy to identify and becomes even stronger once you enter. There is usually a line, but it moves quickly, providing you with adequate time to pick your flavor.
Pedro Vargas, the store’s manager, explained that Tyler Malek, Salt and Straw’s head ice cream maker, has created the flavors in Portland, Oregon, since the company’s inception in 2011. A team is then given the task of deciding which of Malek’s new flavors make the final cut, Vargas said.
These flavors of the month brought a lot of variety, with fruity, acidic, and rich tastes. Each had its own uniqueness, differing drastically from typical ice cream flavors. If you visit Salt and Straw, you will likely be able to find an ice cream that matches your perfect flavor profile.
Chocolate Malted Potato Chip Cupcake ($6.95) 10/10 — We thought this ice cream was by far the best of the bunch. Initially, the rich and decadent chocolate is most prominent. The experience is then followed by crunchiness from the potato chip and chewy, soft cupcake chunks. Accompanying the ice cream is an underlying saltiness that not only balances the sweetness but also elevates the flavor of each element.
Peanut Butter & Jelly Pound Cake ($6.95) 8/10 — This was also one of our favorites. While we felt like the taste was disproportionate, with more jelly than peanut butter, the raspberry-tasting jelly was light and smooth. The raspberry made for an initial sourness, while the peanut butter followed up with sweetness. It made for a great hybrid between a sorbet and an ice cream.
Rum Raisin Bundt Cake ($6.95) 7/10 — The ice cream incorporated a classic vibe, although with a more prominent flavor of rum than raisin, creating some bitterness. Additionally, there was an overwhelming presence of coconut.
Salted Grapefruit Coconut Julep ($6.95) 3/10 — Tart and bitter, the Salted Grapefruit Coconut Julep perfectly exhibits the flavor of a sour grapefruit. The overpowering grapefruit made it difficult to taste the other aspects of this ice cream, like the coconut, despite it being in the name. According to Salt and Straw’s website, the flavor is meant to taste like a “Derby Classic,” evoking flavors associated with the theme of the Kentucky Derby.