Ice cream is one of our favorite excuses for indulging in a dessert that we probably don't need. It's just one of the coolest things around, however you read that phrase.

By definition it's icy, a winning quality on a steamy day, or even on the still-warm days of early fall. And it inspires accomplished chefs who share the general passion for ice cream to create recipes that are cool, i.e., stylish, we-all-want-to-share-that cool.

Good news. We can. Here are four recipes from four chefs who love ice cream — and thoughts on their second-favorite ways of chilling out, next to eating ice cream.