Hollywood Vegan Scoop Shop Churns Out Michelin-Worthy Flavors by WOC Chefs

Dear Bella Creamery is swiftly changing into a vegan ice cream establishment, however in contrast to longstanding ice cream chains that by no means divert from the standard, tried-and-true, this plant-based creamery is all the time developing with new methods to make our mouths water. For co-owners Alice Cherng and Belinda Wei, although, the enterprise is extra than simply ice cream. From their Instagrammable scoop store in Hollywood and now a nationwide transport line, the duo is creating alternatives to have fun girls of coloration cooks and spotlight their excellent work with meals. Their newest mission? A collaboration with acclaimed pastry chef, Gemma Matsuyama, recent from the 2 Michelin-starred Los Angeles hotspot n/naka. We sat down with Wei and Matsuyama over a double scoop of the cool new flavors to study extra in regards to the launch of this quarterly chef-centered sequence. 

Katrina Frederick

Heritage-inspired flavors

Pricey Bella Creamery provides a little bit of all the things. It’ll rope you in with its acquainted Cookies N Cream and Birthday Cake then make you pause and contemplate a taste you’ve by no means tried earlier than akin to Hong Kong Milk Tea. The 2 new flavors created by this partnership with Matsuyama definitely fall into the second class. Now obtainable in-store and on-line, Matsuyama’s Candy Rice Milk Hojicha and Strawberry Yuzu Sorbet had been each impressed by her Japanese heritage. 

“The Candy Rice Hojicha is a combo of two elements that I grew up with—rice and Hojicha. The aroma of the 2 may be very nostalgic for me. I used to be particularly curious in regards to the approach behind this taste, which was one which I hadn’t ever tried earlier than. It yields a custard-like ice cream texture due to the candy Hojicha rice pudding type we use to make the ice cream base,” Wei, who labored with Matsuyama on the brand new flavors, commented on the event course of.

Repeat clients of Pricey Bella Creamery know to not cease with a single scoop. The store is beloved for its over-the-top sundaes, customizable cookie sandwiches, and celebratory ice cream truffles. When requested how she’d gussy up Matsuyama’s flavors, Wei advised us, “I’d like to attempt the Strawberry Yuzu Sorbet in both our Strawberry Vanilla Healthade Pop as a float or the candy Rice Hojicha with sizzling fudge and toasted almond items.” 

Whereas this partnership marks the primary official collaboration of this new quarterly sequence to have fun girls of coloration cooks, it’s not the primary time Pricey Bella’s has struck out to inform cultural tales by means of ice cream. In Might, the model launched a set of flavors for AAPI month. Ten p.c of the gross sales from this assortment had been donated to Tzu Chi, a Buddhist-founded worldwide humanitarian group. Taiwanese Pineapple Cake, Mango Sticky Rice, and Candy Crimson Bean allowed Cherng and Wei to share the tastes and reminiscences of their Taiwanese American heritage with their clients hungry for one thing candy. 

“I hope to present clients a brand new expertise in ice cream and invite them to discover conventional Asian elements that we fastidiously chosen to present them a glance into our Asian tradition,” Wei remarked.

Katrina Frederick

A Michelin contact

Chef Matsuyama isn’t vegan, however she’s come to embrace plant-based elements that higher align together with her well being. “I really like conventional pastries utilizing dairy, gluten, and all of the finer issues in life. It’s simply that as I age, my physique metabolizes meals in a different way that I’ve to devour these elements consciously,” she defined. “I began to lean extra into desserts which can be scrumptious however everybody can get pleasure from with out worrying about feeling fatigued after consuming them. That has led to exploring extra inventive methods of utilizing Asian methods and elements to make desserts which can be allergen-free however with full taste.”

Matsuyama went into pastry to fulfill her itch to be inventive, and it’s led her to Michelin-starred eating places like n/naka the place she labored because the pastry chef for 2 years. It’s additionally led her to collaborations just like the one with Pricey Bella. “I’ve all the time needed to companion up with an Asian-American lady chef, not to mention one with such a formidable status,” Wei gushed. “I couldn’t wait to attach together with her to listen to her concepts of flavors.”

Equally excited, Matsuyama advised us she was additionally drawn to Pricey Bella’s by the concept of supporting different AAPI- and women-owned companies. “Alice and Belinda take a inventive, chef-driven method to ice cream, which I may establish with as a chef,” she famous. 

Katrina Frederick

Supporting girls of coloration cooks

To advance different girls of coloration cooks past this limited-time partnership, we requested each Wei and Matsuyama about different girls they’re impressed by. Wei named Niki Nakamaya and Asma Khan. Nakamaya is the chef-owner of n/naka, and Khan is an Indian-born British chef, restaurateur, and cookbook writer. 

“I actually respect each lady of coloration who has been by means of a lot stricter circumstances in our historical past that we should not overlook to present our gratitude in direction of,” Matsuyama stated. “Not too long ago although, Laura Hoang who’s a Chef de Delicacies at Pearl River Deli in Chinatown has had an unlimited impression on me. Our paths have crossed prior to now however COVID has introduced us nearer with our ardour for desserts and life. Her storytelling and uncooked truthful method of making are pleasant and contain very tasty snacks. She is wonderful.”

To additional their mission of social accountability, Pricey Bella and Matsuyama have agreed to donate a portion of the proceeds from Matsuyama’s creations to I Obtained Your Again, a non-profit group that advocates for psychological well being help within the restaurant trade. “Psychological well being is extraordinarily vital to me, particularly within the restaurant trade, the place we’re used to working lengthy hours day by day,” Matsuyama elaborated. “I Obtained Your Again is offering sources to eating places that prioritize open communication and help for challenges. There’s coaching that helps managers establish emotional misery of their workers to allow them to higher collaborate and create a protected atmosphere to specific one’s emotions.” 

For extra on vegan girls of coloration feats, learn:
Vegan Cookie Company Is the First Female, Black-Owned CPG to Raise $1 Million
30 Women-Owned Vegan Businesses to Support
Vegan Cheese Queen Makes Forbes’ First 50 Over 50 List

Tanya Flink is a Digital Editor at VegNews in addition to a author and runner residing in Orange County, CA.