American
Save Your A/C - Ice Cream at Diddy Riese
With high heat of summer now upon us, we turn to alternative sources of cooling. Last year, boba was all the rage. This year, it’s gelato. But what about good old fashioned…ice cream? Diddy Riese in Westwood can bring the chill for just a dollar.
Which makes us wonder, how on earth does Diddy Riese stay in business? Even with a line 30-deep, out the door, down the street, I just can’t see how 2 cookies and a scoop of ice cream sold one-at-a-time for just $1 each can pay for the Westwood overhead and wages for five men behind the counter. There’s gotta be something else going on back there.
But if there is, and I knew what it was, I’d never tell, because I love chocolate chip on one side, cinnamon sugar on the other, and strawberry cheesecake ice cream squashed in between.
I still can’t believe it’s only a dollar!
A co-worker told me in a hushed tone that the reason the cookies taste so good is that they are made with *whisper it now* “pork lard.â€? There was a dramatic pause and he looked at me as if I were going to *gasp* with disgust. To his dismay, I laughed. Of course they taste good because they’re made with lard. That’s why I eat it - it tastes good. Duh. Diddy Riese owner, Mark Perry, says in the comments that there is no lard in their cookies!
Now give me an espresso chip ice cream with a white chocolate chip macadamia and an M&M cookie, please. You know what? It’s triple digits in some parts of LA today. Make that two. Thanks!
Diddy Riese
926 Broxton Ave (at Le Conte)
Westwood, CA 90024
310.208.0448
By sarah (see more of her posts). You can find more of sarah's writing at her own website The Delicious Life
Discussion
Post a comment
As a former Bruin, Diddy Riese’s was a staple to my survival. Never heard about the pork lard bit though. Just wanted to add that the brownies are really good, too. Also, at the risk of sounding like a real kid, I liked the cookies with milk combo that Diddy Riese’s offered, too.
Dear Sara;
WE DO NOT USE LARD! I wish to dispell a rumor that we at Diddy Riese cookies use lard. Our cookies are made with a mixture of butter and margarine. Never have we used lard. Thank you for your kind words about our product and store but your comment “second hand” that we use lard can
be hurtfull to our reputation; and I’m sure that wasn’t what you had in mind.
Mark Perry
Owner; Diddy Riese Cookies
Thanks for the clarification Mark, we have updated the entry!
Thanks Jonah and Sara for helping get the word out about Diddy Riese. Much appreciated!
Mark Perry
Diddy Riese Cookies
Diddy ROCKS!! Being a former Bruin, they feed poor students well!! HA !! HA !! HOw can you bet a 1 buck ice-cream sandwich!! Plus they always donate tons of cookies to support our campus events!! Great fun, goood cookies and ice-cream … Diddy are AWESOME!! So much happy memories …
Hey Mr. Perry, where can i get nutritional facts for diddy riese? i’ve looked online but can’t find them.
I wish they sold them online ’cause they would makes lots of money.
My husband is a cancer patient at UCLA and I used to love giving these cookies to the nurses but as much as I love the cookies HATE the service. I try to buy the 5dz box for gift giving but they won’t SELL the gift boxes/bags separately so that I can make the tough decisions about “who gets what” once I KNOW who gets what. (I’m not even trying to get the bags/boxes for free!!!) Now it’s just easier to go somewhere else.
I was out in Cali visiting one year and I stopped in at Diddy Riese! OMG those are the best cookies I have ever tasted! I just wish I could order them like online or something. That would be so wonderful! That was like four years ago and I am still lusting after those yummy cookies. I have an aunt there, but I have been waiting years for her to send them to me! :o(
Our recent visit to Westwood was highlighted by a first time stopover to your store. My family of 5 was fed for $6.00, we couldn’t believe it. The quality of the cookies, brownies and ice cream was impressive. Any chance of franchising out? Thank you, The Tittnich Family