International foods pop up all over the US, fueled by immigrant energy and entrepreneurial ardor. The New Jersey-born rolled ice cream chef, Chris Lee, opened Cafe Joie in November 2021 in an artsy hot spot in downtown Torrington, right off the Naugatuck River. The coffee is fresh and pungent but it's the Thai rolled ice cream created in front of your eyes that gobsmacks your taste buds. Ice cream fanatics value its flavor, texture and appearance but us ordinary mortals are equally delighted by the process of making these freezy treats.
Chris explains, "I am taking ice cream out of the fast food category and giving it new life as healthy food." He uses all natural ingredients and the majority of his concoctions derive from non-dairy bases to serve the growing vegan taste. Bases like taro, complement fruit flavors from ginger to honeydew melon. Of course strawberries and blueberries chime in, because this is land of seductive pastels. It took 18 months for Chris to import his specialized freezing machines equipped with a cold steel pad to create his frozen concoctions.
The fascinating process involves pouring the base mix on a frozen freezer top, chopping the fresh fruit with a couple of blades that Chris powers into motion like a karate chop master, then tossing, turning and rolling the batter until it reaches a thick texture. Watching Chris work is like witnessing process art: this showboat ice cream prep merits swooping close-ups and professional camerawork. The chopping and scraping creates an amazing sparkling soundtrack, kind of like an Olympic skater who has miked her ankles. The flashing blades of the putty knife tools carve a glittering visual rhythm as the mix is diced and turned. When chopping something as substantial as an oreo, the blades tap a metallic tattoo to crumble the cookie.
Now the slabs of rolled ice cream are ready to be smashed flat on the surface then shaved up again in exquisitely balanced rolls. Wielding tongs, chef Chris gently tucks each roll into a cup. Then Chris' wife Sunny whisks the cup away for finishing touches: whipped cream, or nuts, or tiny delectable bits of mochi, or more fruit, or chocolate drizzles or whipped cream with fruit appliqué. The menu names some combos to get newbies started: try Purple Haze with blueberries and taro ice cream, or Piña Colada with toasted coconut, or Will Ube Mine with purple yam and Captain Crunch or Gotcha Matcha with green tea ice cream or the triumphant Y.O.L.O. You Obviously Love Oreos. read more