Christina's

You know the contenders as well as we do, and the good-natured competition they generate is making area ice cream better by the minute. Case in point: Christina's, which is holding its own against such long-loved local big boys as Herrell's and Toscanini's with flavors including carrot cake, avocado, and khulfi (cardamom and pistachio). But originality alone doesn't cut it: The textures here are addictive, and the toppings are fresh. Go ahead, make a meal out of it—you might just be able to cover all the food groups.