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Bowie residents have known for years where to go for some of the best ice cream around — Simple Pleasures Ice Café, which offers ice cream and other foods produced with local and often organic ingredients.

The longtime favorite has now moved to its third location in its 10-year history: the historic Fabian House on Chestnut Avenue. The family-run café is owned by Terri and Rodney Russell, who are joined by their daughters Rajah, 18, and Brittany, 22, in running the place.

It began as a project of Terri Russell's mother, Santa Maria Perrin, who had been making her own ice cream for years and wanted to finally open her own business. Terri and Rodney Russell liked the idea, too, having owned mobile ice cream pushcarts back in Florida in 1992. Later in the 1990s, they lived in Germany as Air Force members, and still fondly recall the dessert cafés they encountered there.

"We wanted to actually duplicate that European flair," said Terri Russell, who is now retired with her husband from the Air Force.

So their own "ice café" was born in October 2000, on Route 197 in Bowie. Three years ago they moved to a nearby location in Old Town Bowie, but the space was very small, Terri Russell said. So when the old Fabian House Café closed down, the house's original owner, Frank Fladung, a longtime Simple Pleasures customer, asked the Russells if they would like to move in.

"It's very unique. It's probably the best around," Fladung said of their ice cream, which has "a lot of different flavors." "They put a lot of effort into making it the way it is."

The Fabian House — so called after the middle name of Fladung, who was born there — now sports a gigantic ice-cream float on the front porch. The Russells' weekly "Parties on the Porch" from 4 to 6 p.m. Fridays make the best of summer afternoons by offering any frozen drink confection at half-price.

The porch parties may give way to indoor open mic sessions in the winter, although that is still in the works, Terri Russell said. But, like the activities, the ice cream menu is also seasonal.

Part of what makes Simple Pleasures unique, as Fladung said, is the thought that goes into it: berries and other fruits come from local farms — if they're not in season, they won't be in the Russells' ice cream — and are often organic.

The most popular flavors include stracciatella — vanilla blended with dark Italian chocolate with a hint of hazelnut — and rum raisin, as well as the mango Italian ice. There's always basic vanilla and chocolate, but the seasons bring many other flavors here: coming later this summer and in the fall are peach, apple, blueberry and blackberry.

During the holidays, the Russells offer special flavors like peppermint, sweet potato-pecan, pumpkin, banana pudding and eggnog.

Ice cream runs for $2.50 a scoop or $3.25 for a sundae with one small scoop, one topping and whipped cream.

More popular in the colder months, Simple Pleasures also runs a sandwich and salad menu, with breads also coming from local farmers markets. Sandwiches include tuna ($6.79) and chicken salad ($7.29) served on seasoned wraps, grilled cheese ($5.79) and more, and all are served with a choice of potato salad or coleslaw and veggie chips. Children's meals include peanut butter and jelly ($3), grilled cheese ($3.50) and grilled turkey and cheese ($3.95), and all are served with applesauce and chips.

Terri Russell also offers afternoon teas by reservation, serving a medley of tea sandwiches and pastries from a local chef, for $11.95 per person.

Simple Pleasures Ice Café

8519 Chestnut Ave., Bowie

Phone: 301-464-6777

Hours: 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; noon to 7:30 p.m. Sunday; closed Mondays