I was invited, along with my partner, Amanda, to this event, on the evening of 25th May 2017.
The kiosk is on Marine parade, Lyme Regis, right next to the popular Harbour Inn, and it looks out over the harbour and the world famous Cobb, very easy to find, and very hard to miss!
We are both lovers of Ice cream, and of Lyme Regis, having run a mackerel fishing boat there for nine years till 2012. So we were keen to meet the proprietors, Annie and Sam Hanbury, to hear about their products, and indeed to sample some, so we said our hellos and introduced ourselves, and were immediately offered one of their special cocktails, busily being created by a member of their friendly staff.
I opted for a non alcoholic Elderflower version, being the driver, and Amanda had one based on Vodka, both of which were full of flavour, refreshing and delicious. I should point out that the cocktails were a “special” for the launch, not to be a regular feature of their products for sale!
The choice of delicious Ice Cream flavours was extensive and very interesting, but from now on I shall refer to them as “Gelato” which is the Italian word for “ice cream” , but it is different from the ice cream we are accustomed to in this country.(Gelato is a high milk, low fat version of ice cream, said to have been invented way back in 1559 by Bernado Buontalenti).
Annie and Sam opened their first Baboo kiosk in West Bay about a year ago and have won a few awards already in their first year: They won the coveted Champion Ice Cream & Sorbet from Taste of the West, and Blackmore Vale Magazine’s Best Dairy Producer as well as attracting a loyal following from local  chefs like River Cottage’s Canteen in Axminster, and The Hillside in, Lyme Regis.
Now, one year on, their second kiosk, here in Lyme Regis caught the eye of many of the passers-by during their launch evening, and there was a genuine interest in their products, so the future looks good for this venture, and we both wished them well.
Much of the inspiration behind Baboo Gelato came from the family’s time spent living in Singapore, when walks on a Sunday would always end up at the Island Creamery, which sold authentic, handmade ice cream in locally inspired flavours such as durian ice cream and Tiger beer sorbet. When they moved to Dorset in 2012, they wanted to recreate the magical ice cream experience that both they and their children missed.  
To this end, Annie went to Bologna University to train as a professional gelatiere, learning to make ice cream, which is smoother and more intensely flavoured than  traditional  English ice cream.  She brought back the best artisanal machinery to set up Baboo’s ice cream kitchen in Salway Ash, Bridport. 
Milk is sourced from an organic farm at Toller Porcorum, fruit comes from the family garden, or local farms and producers, such as Forde Abbey and North Perrot Farm, such is Annie’s passion for having the best ingredients and flavours.
I sampled the delicious Damson Ripple, which was soft, full of fruity flavour and indeed was delicious, and Amanda had Pistachio, which was also full of flavour and delicious, naturally we tasted each other’s too!
Baboo also serve hot and cold drinks, ice lollies, and as I said the staff were very friendly an knowledgable, and of course, Annie and Sam are passionate about their product, and most importantly, they love what they do!
Oh and did I tell about the local magician who entertained us?
No? The magician was called Carlton apparently he has lived in Lyme for about a year, really nice affable chap, dapper and suits the role of magician very well, he told us it began when he was 7 years old and he absolutely loves it.
So when you’re in Lyme Regis do pop along the Marine parade and “Go to Baboo”.
Doug Chalk
