Other hotels and even motels might let guests make their own sundaes.

But the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago invites you to do something really cool: Make your own ice cream -- that is, pick a custom flavor to be prepared, frozen and delivered to you in your room.

		The scoop on The Scoop For those who like to plan vacations arouind ice cream: Opening next month at the Fairmont Chateua Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada, is "The Scoop," a retro-style ice cream parlor that will sell guests and other visitors to the lake a range of flavors including the local concoction, "Pine Tree Ice Cream." Related article Gourmet ice cream recipes from Seattle

The program, which just started June 1, allows guests to simply chat over the "ice cream hot line" with Executive Chef Noah Bekofsky, of the hotel's Aria Restaurant and Bar, and tell him what they'd like in their ice cream -- from fudge to candied ginger to rose petals.

Says Chef Bekofsky, "The only thing you can't work with is foie gras," since it's banned in Chicago.

One guest recently had chocolate-dipped potato chips blended with vanilla ice cream. For another woman, he created bumbleberry pie ice cream with the pie in it, plus a savory guacamole ice cream complete with a side of pico de gallo sauce. He dubbed the latter, "GuacAdobo Love."

"I wanted to do something for the summer that was unique," says Chef Bekofsky, a self-described "ice cream fanatic" who this time of year makes high-quality ice cream at home for his two children. And he already was making it in larger batches for desserts on the hotel menu.

(One of the Fairmont's signature room-service items: "Warm Bittersweet Chocolate Torte" topped with homemade banana ice cream and caramel sauce.)

To have him make your own custom pint, you must give him 48 hours' advance notice, and, please, something to work with. "I don't want to make you a vanilla and chocolate ice cream with raspberries. You can get that on your own."

It doesn't take that long to make, but it requires time in the deep freezer.

He'll pack it into a pint container with a personalized label that can be delivered to guest rooms via the hotel's "In Room Dining" program, or picked up at the concierge desk.

The cost is $12.

You can book an "Ice Cream Lovers' Package," which includes the chance to make your "dream pint" and an overnight stay with a late (5 p.m.) checkout, starting at $272 plus taxes (actually, just $12 more than regular rates).

He's been surprised so far by how many locals have ordered custom pints to take home.

As he salivates awaiting wild blueberries and Rainier cherries to come into season, he plans to continue the program through summer, if not beyond. "It's a good excuse for me to get ice cream."

For more on the hotel, at 200 N. Columbus Drive, visit www.fairmont.com/chicago or call 1-312-565-8000.

And for a few fresh new ice cream recipes, look to your right.