Ice Truckers

The hipster, family owned artisan ice cream operation Van Leeuwen always had the sunny skies of Los Angeles in mind, even when they launched in Brooklyn six years ago. Brothers Pete and Ben Van Leeuwen, along with Ben’s wife Laura O’Neil, got started with two retro-style trucks in NYC where the company now has six trucks and six stores. Although Van Leeuwen is still growing in New York, they finally took their truck out West where the buttery yellow scoop truck made its LA debut a couple months ago. Brooklyn’s beloved makes sense in SoCal’s 365-day-a-year ice cream market and Pete Van Leeuwen moved to California earlier this year to expand the company’s base of operation. The LA truck posts its locations online- which can also be accessed via Twitter- and the crew even has a cookbook in the works. The truck has landed in front of LACMA, hit Abbot Kinney in Venice, and appeared at other cool spots throughout the city.

Fan favorites include mint chip, strawberry, and earl grey tea where the minimalist operation is dedicated to top quality ingredients with simple flavors made in small batches. Pints are stocked everywhere on the East Coast from Whole Foods to corner stores, and can now be found at the Oaks Gourmet Market in Hollywood. Plans for Van Leeuwen’s first LA brick and mortar store is also in the works, which will open in the fall at DTLA’s Arts District- not far from where the first Big Gay Ice Cream shop, also from NYC, will land. The Van Leeuwen clan is excited about their Vegan ice cream offerings too. It’s as good, if not better, than the dairy they’re known for as they use house made cashew milk, coconut milk, cocoa butter and responsibly sourced coconut oil. Angelenos won’t have a problem indulging in Van Leeuwen’s New York Hot Fudge Sundaes that have enamored left coast foodies…and now it’s our turn. Without their polar vortex deep freeze, thankfully. www.vanleeuwenicecream.com  twitter: @vlaic