JACKSON, Wyo. — What first started as a sweet treat to delight the taste buds of diners of Fine Dining Restaurant Group’s restaurants, can now be found in markets across Texas and California.
Origin Story
Just like Rome, the mini ice cream sandwich wasn’t built in a day. In fact, Fine Dining Restaurant Group (FDRG) had no expectations to start an ice cream company when they first started making house-made, hand-packed ice cream in fanciful flavors to serve at their restaurants (Bin22, Osteria and The Kitchen, to name a few). However, guests quickly realized that just having them at the end of their meal wasn’t enough to satisfy their taste for the frozen treats, and began asking how they might enjoy them at home and in bulk. Fine Dining’s solution? Enter Cream + Sugar.
Today, Cream + Sugar operates out of an industrial-sized kitchen on Gregory Lane. All Cream + Sugar ice creams are still made by hand using milk and cream from regional farms and fresh-baked cookies, in the case of the ice cream sandwiches. Everything is assembled and packaged by a dedicated team before making its way to grocery shelves. Though the small-batch process may take longer, Cream + Sugar believes that the technique plays a role in what makes their ice cream taste so good.
“As chefs first and foremost, it was important to us to not only utilize high quality ingredients, but to also keep the hand-spun approach. We’re passionate about what we do and keeping this approach allows us to communicate our passion and love for our craft even that much better,” says Fine Dining co-founder Gavin Fine.
To the Mountain West and Beyond
Cream + Sugar initially began expanding to regional markets (Salt Lake City, Montana and Idaho) so that visitors could enjoy the ice cream when they returned back home. As Jackson has grown in popularity, so too has Cream + Sugar, and FDRG recognized the desire to reach markets beyond the Mountain West.
As of the last few weeks, Cream + Sugar can now be found at most Central Market locations in Texas. Central Market is a popular Texas-based grocery store chain that carries fresh and fine foods from across the globe. Cream + Sugar can be found in the freezer section amongst brands like Jeni’s and Ample Hills Creamery.
Simultaneously, two Los Angeles-based natural markets have also started selling Cream + Sugar: Vicente Foods and Jayde’s Market with more retail partners coming soon. Jayde’s is a family-run business that carries fresh, local ingredients as well as prepared foods. Their standard of quality is high and they expect the same in the brands they carry. Similarly, Vicente Foods specializes in quality and service and has been in business for the last 73 years.
Fine says, “We’re proud to offer products that meet or exceed the standards of quality and ingredients our retail partners require of their vendors.” These specialty markets are now bringing a taste of Jackson to California.
From a small kitchen space to Mountain West retailers to the shelves of Texas and California grocery stores, Cream + Sugar has grown immensely over the last few years; however, they still maintain the small-batch, hand-spun process they’ve always prided themselves on. Whether you’re craving ice cream sandwiches while home in TX or CA, or a Jackson local looking to have a taste of home during your travels, now you can, by visiting these locally-owned markets across the U.S. Don’t have a Cream + Sugar retailer in your area? Their pints and ice cream sandwiches are also available for nationwide shipping on Goldbelly.
