By Jess Mayhugh | Photography by David Colwell - June 2015
In the 21st century, ice cream vending gets a decidedly modern spin. Move over ice cream truck—meet the latest trend in the mobile food business: dessert bikes. Both Katherine O'Brien, founder of Cream Cruiser, and Krystal Mack, owner of PieCycle and KarmaPop, are using bikes to peddle (and pedal) their dessert treats around town.
Here’s a comparison chart for your consuming pleasure this summer:
Gourmet ice-cream sandwiches.
Spring 2015.
One custom seven-speed bike from Portland-based Icicle Tricycles.
April-October, but also works weddings and corporate events.
Home baker, who made ice-cream sandwiches for friends; currently clocks in at Charm City Concierge.
Eight cookies, 15 flavors of Taharka Bros. ice cream ($5).
Honey-graham ice cream
with chocolate-chip cookie;
strawberry ice cream with lemon cookie; cheesecake ice cream
with snickerdoodle cookie.
“Since it’s such a new idea, my biggest fear was that the city would think I was completely out of my mind,” O’Brien says. “But they gave me the same permit as a food truck.”
Inner Harbor, Fells Point, Federal Hill, and Pratt Street Farmers’ Market.
“I don’t have the money to open up a brick-and-mortar,” O’Brien says. “This is an inexpensive, low-risk way to sell my product.”
Facebook: Cream Cruiser
Instagram: @creamcruiser
Artisanal ice-pops and upscale pies, cookies, and cakes.
Spring 2014.
A seven-speed and three-speed from Philadelphia- based Haley Tricycles.
May-September;
October-January.
Worked the cold station at Le Garage; now reaps and sows at Real Food Farm.
25 ice-pop flavors ($3) and four pie varieties ($5/slice).
Sweet-potato-chocolate- harissa pop; kale lemonade pop; Spring Break pie with Fisher's caramel popcorn.
“Weather is a big challenge since you can’t fight Mother Nature,” Mack says. “Also your legs, man—you forget how hilly this city is.”
Hampden, Mt. Vernon, Charles Village.
“Having your own freedom is everything,” Mack says. “Being able to have that one-on-one interaction with people in the community is key.”
Facebook: BmorePopsandPies
Instagram: @karmapop_bmore
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