The Scoop on IceCycle Creamery

"If you know how to read, you'll never get lost," my mother used to say when I was learning how to navigate the chaotic streets of Manila using public transportation at eighteen.

Being a traveler, I still take that lesson with me today. And I realize it also applies to homecooking. I often use the same encouragement with my friends who are phobic in the kitchen. If you apply yourself in reading and following instructions from a cookbook or the bazillions of food blogs online, there really is no excuse not to make your own meals from scratch.

However, I will agree that there are people who are extraordinary visionaries in the kitchen. And they are rare. It can be argued that great culinary talents are made but at IceCycle's kitchen last Saturday learning the story of their ice cream, I'm sold to the idea that some great culinary talents are just born with it.

Otherwise, why haven't you and I conjured up yellow curry and banana or sage and pine nut ice cream, yet Jeremy DeMarzo at IceCycle has?

Ice Cream on Two Wheels

I first ran into IceCycle at Reno Street Food's Party in the Park, a weekly food truck event at Idlewild Park in Reno every Friday evening. With bespoke and gourmet flavors that include fresh basil, banana curry, and strawberry lemonade, I was defenseless especially in nearing 100 degree weather. I also found the quirky bicycle freezer and clever wordplay of the ice cream flavors to be brilliant brand marketing moves. Must. Try.

It was love at first bite. The basil had the taste of how you want to feel all summer long - cool, fresh and clean. The banana curry was a jolt - it was so unexpected, but once you get over the initial shock, you'll find yourself on repeat of how ridiculously good it is.

This is how I found myself at IceCycle's kitchen, in the back room of their brick-and-mortar operations, Pedaler's Deli in Lakeside (more on that later). I wanted to know the scoop on IceCycle Creamery, which seems to be the first of its kind in town.

The Scoop

I've always thought though those who make anything sweet have it easy. It would be hard to fail at something when you're dumping cupful after cupful of sugar on something. But IceCycle prides itself in using all natural flavors, no preservatives, and quality ingredients, thus eliminating the need to overcompensate with more sugar than necessary. They also use milk from Sandhill Dairy in Fallon, NV, which, owners Jeremy and Leilani say enhance the texture and flavors of their ice cream.

What started as an experiment using an ice cream maker for home use inevitably and eventually turned into a small-batch ice cream operation being peddled on pedals at events. Banking on originality, quality, and the readiness of the area for something gastronomically avant garde in Reno standards, the business now has scaled to a physical ice cream parlor on Lakeside, which also doubles as a deli.

Do Me a Flavor

IceCycle is not all haute and experimental flavors. They have the traditional varities in cookie dough (called "Cookie Roulette", in the beginning made with Homage's rejects), chocolate, vanilla (which combined in a milkshake is stunning), and mint chocolate (with mint proudly grown in their garden). They have a flavor called "Nevada Means Home" which is a nod to our locale, mixing sage and pine nuts. I tried the "Fresh Prince of Persia" laid on top of "Maple Bacon", which could not have been more on opposite sides of the spectrum. One was made with rosewater and pecans and was as dainty and delicate as can be, while the other was brusque, burly and intrusive. The bacon chunks was disarming at first, but a few more licks, and I started to get it.

But whatever you do, order your ice cream on their homemade cones. I don't know what they put in that batter, but they are the best tasting cones I've ever had.

IceCycle Creamery's ice cream parlor also doubles as a deli, called Pedalers Deli. The Dutch and I split a Cuban and it is hard not to speak in superlatives because it really is a kickass sandwich.

Pedalers Deli is located at 6147 Lakeside Drive, Reno, NV, in the same strip mall as Yoga Loka. Their bicycle loaded with ice cream is a mainstay at Reno Street Food's Party in the Park, every Friday at Idlewild Park in Reno, NV, from 5pm-9pm. You can follow them on Facebook here.

Special thanks to Jeremy and Leilani DeMarzo for being generous with their time, stories, and ice cream!

#renotahoe #food