Gourmet local Ice Cream? Yes please.

Anyone out there like ice cream?

Oh, you do, do you?

Well then, you are in luck my divine dairy loving friends. In luck -- and out of luck -- all at once. For I will tell you a tale of a woman who makes the ultimate frozen treat -- but there is a waitlist with over 1500 drooling folks just waiting for their induction into the exclusive "membership only" MilkMade.

Drat.

Dianne Hardeman has earned herself the status of ice cream goddess. Less than two years ago, Dianne started playing around with making her own ice cream as merely a creative outlet. Then, in late 2009, she brought a couple of pints to a party. A columnist mentioned it in New York Magazine -- and MilkMade burst into our lives.

Dianne uses all local ingredients -- getting her dairy from Ronnybrook Farms and eggs from Red Jacket Orchards.

But this is just one of the reasons we love her. The other reasons?

THIS:

2010 flavors

• January: Coffee+Donuts, Frozen Hot Toddy
• February: Red Velvet Cake, Salted Caramel
• March: Maple Pancake, Pear Ginger
• April: Twist & Stout, PBBS
• May: Honey Lavender Granola, Mint Chocolate Brownie
• June: Southern Sweet Tea, Rhubarb
• July: Earl Grey Pine, Strawberry Lemonade
• August: Black Currant Gingersnap, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie
• September: Caramel Corn, Peppery Peach
• October: Peanut Butter Jelly Time, Caramel Apple
• November: Pecan Pie a la Mode, Pumpkin Pie
• December: Horchata, Chocolate Candy Cane

Now, the combination of quality and creativity is indeed rather pricey. For $50, you will get one pint hand delivered each month -- for 3 months. For $90, two pints/month.

Since Dianne still works out of her small 6th floor walk-up east village apartment, quantity certainly take a back seat to quality. Thus the waitlist. However, her website boasts of their intention to expand.

So, if you can make some room in your budget, treat yourself to decadence. If not, Ben & Jerry will certainly be grateful.