Food & Drink
Street Sweets
The mobile dessert trend gains speed in Baltimore.
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:
CREAM CRUISER
THE SCOOP
Gourmet ice-cream sandwiches.
LAUNCHED
Spring 2015.
ALONG FOR THE RIDE
One custom seven-speed bike from Portland-based Icicle Tricycles.
SEASONS
April-October, but also works weddings and corporate events.
STREET CRED
Home baker, who made ice-cream sandwiches for friends; currently clocks in at Charm City Concierge.
COLD REALITY
Eight cookies, 15 flavors of Taharka Bros. ice cream ($5).
TOP TASTES
Honey-graham ice cream
with chocolate-chip cookie;
strawberry ice cream with lemon cookie; cheesecake ice cream
with snickerdoodle cookie.
ON THE ROAD
“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.”
SWEET BEAT
Inner Harbor, Fells Point, Federal Hill, and Pratt Street Farmers’ Market.
MOBILE MOTTO
“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.”
FIND ME
Facebook: Cream Cruiser
Instagram: @creamcruiser
KARMAPOP/PIE CYCLE
THE SCOOP
Artisanal ice-pops and upscale pies, cookies, and cakes.
LAUNCHED
Spring 2014.
ALONG FOR THE RIDE
A seven-speed and three-speed from Philadelphia- based Haley Tricycles.
SEASONS
May-September;
October-January.
STREET CRED
Worked the cold station at Le Garage; now reaps and sows at Real Food Farm.
COLD REALITY
25 ice-pop flavors ($3) and four pie varieties ($5/slice).
TOP TASTES
Sweet-potato-chocolate- harissa pop; kale lemonade pop; Spring Break pie with Fisher’s caramel popcorn.
ON THE ROAD
“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.”
SWEET BEAT
Hampden, Mt. Vernon, Charles Village.
MOBILE MOTTO
“Having your own freedom is everything,” Mack says. “Being able to have that one-on-one interaction with people in the community is key.”
FIND ME
Facebook: BmorePopsandPies
Instagram: @karmapop_bmore