Hello and welcome to my August newsletter, thanks for being here. This month feels especially sweet🍦If you've been reading my newsletters for a while, you know how much I enjoy shining a light on the people and small businesses that make Albuquerque such a wonderful place to call home. And since I hosted my Customer Appreciation Ice Cream Social at Heidi's Ice Cream a few days ago, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to tell you the story behind one of my favorite local businesses.

Long before there was ice cream, there was jam.

Since 2001, Heidi's Raspberry Farm has been a familiar name at farmers markets in Albuquerque, Corrales, and Santa Fe, where Heidi Eleftheriou built a loyal following selling small-batch organic raspberry jams made from berries grown on her family farm in Corrales. Over the years, what started as a farm stand favorite grew into an award-winning New Mexican business, earning recognition as "Best Food Product Made Locally" by Albuquerque The Magazine and making Heidi's jams a staple in kitchens across the state, and beyond.

Like so many great family businesses, the next chapter came from the next generation. Heidi’s son Dimitri grew up selling jam alongside his mom at local markets before pursuing culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu in San Francisco. He spent nearly a decade working in California restaurants, including an apprenticeship at the legendary Chez Panisse. When New Mexico called him home in 2016, he brought a passion for creating memorable food experiences with him. He also brought a dream of building something uniquely his own.

That dream became Heidi’s Ice Cream Shop, opened in 2023 behind his family’s jam factory. While honoring the same commitment to handcrafted quality, Dimitri introduced artisanal ice cream inspired by New Mexico ingredients and unexpected flavor combinations. Today, the shop rotates more than 40 flavors, from Brown Butter Pinon and Lavender Strawberry Mint (yes, they even have dairy-free options!) to my personal favorite Adobe Road…featuring chocolate ice cream, red chile marshmallow, and candied pecans. YUM!

It’s the kind of place that reminds you why supporting local businesses is so rewarding. There’s creativity, craftsmanship, and a story in every scoop. And the story is still growing. Heidi’s just opened their second location in Corrales, bringing the business full circle, back to the community where the raspberry farm first took root over 2 decades ago. The new location is located at The Farm Stand at 4206 Corrales Road.

One of the things that makes Heidi’s so much fun is that it’s designed to encourage exploration. If choosing just one flavor feels impossible (trust me, it usually does), their ice cream flights are the perfect solution. Instead of committing to a single scoop, guests can sample four different flavors. You get to mix and match everything from familiar favorites to adventurous creations like Burnt Honey S’mores or Yuzu Caramel Black Sesame.

It’s a delicious invitation to slow down, sample something new, and maybe even discover a flavor you never expected to love. The flights have quickly become a customer favorite and are part of what makes a visit to Heidi’s feel more like a tasting experience than a quick stop for dessert. What a perfect way to be inspired by the artistry of each recipe and try combinations that you might never have ordered otherwise. It’s one of those simple ideas that turns dessert into an elevated experience worth sharing. And telling others about!

One of the most creative ideas at Heidi’s is something they call the Scoop Lab-their experimental test kitchen for ice cream. During the first week of every month, Dimitri and his team introduce a brand new, hyper-seasonal flavor designed to push the boundaries of what ice cream can be. Think Beet Ginger with Mascarpone Swirl or Wasabi Strawberry Swirl. Combinations that sound surprising at first but are carefully crafted to balance sweetness, texture, and unexpected flavor.

The catch? They’re available for one week only. When the week ends, the flavor is retired. No second chances. It’s a playful way to keep experimenting, encourage creativity, and give customers something to anticipate month after month to see what’s coming next.

That spirit of creativity hasn't gone unnoticed. Earlier this year, Tasting Table named Heidi's the Best Ice Cream Shop in New Mexico, recognizing the imagination, craftsmanship, and care that goes into every batch. It's a well-deserved honor for a family business that has quietly been delighting New Mexicans for more than two decades. And proof that some of the state's most memorable culinary experiences can be found tucked away in unexpected places.

Customer Appreciation Event at Heidi’s

As luck-*OR* strategic planning-would have it, my own story with Heidi’s just gained another chapter. Last Friday August 7th, I had the privilege of hosting my Customer Appreciation Ice Cream Social there, and what a fun afternoon it was!

Customer Favorites from the Ice Cream Social:
🍦 Adobe Road
🍦 Brown Butter Piñon
🍦 French Toast

When I first started planning this event, I was just thinking it would be a fun excuse to get together over great ice cream. After spending the evening catching up with familiar faces, I was reminded that it was always about much more than dessert. One of the greatest gifts of working in real estate is the relationships that continue long after the closing table. Over the years, customers become friends, families grow, careers change, and new chapters begin. Being invited back into those stories is something I never take for granted.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by Heidi’s to share a scoop, a laugh, and a little moment of your summer. Thanks also goes to Tara Ross and Title Alliance of NM for helping make the event a success, and the wonderful team at Heidi’s for welcoming us with their hospitality. Whether we’ve worked together recently, years ago, or simply enjoy staying connected each month through these newsletters, I’m grateful you’re here!

As the summer starts to wind down, with fewer buyers in the market now through mid September, there’s usually less competition for homes. Now is the time to buy if you want to get a home for a bit less, or ask for seller concessions. Give me a call today to start your journey, I’d love to help you achieve your 2026 real estate goals!   

Every month I have the privilege of sharing a story about someone who is helping make Albuquerque a little more interesting, a little more beautiful, or a little more delicious. This month just happened to include ice cream. Thanks for continuing to read these newsletters, support local businesses, and be part of our community. I hope this month’s story inspires you to try a new flavor, stop by a local business you’ve never visited before, or just slow down long enough to enjoy one of life’s sweeter moments.

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