Nitro Freeze Ice Cream Company – “N’ice Cream”
BY VAL SCHOGER PHOTOS BY ERIC MARCUS
On a hot summer day, what’s better than eating ice cream? The answer is, eating “N’ice Cream!”
“My daughters, Kassidy Rain and Devon, came up with the brilliant name. It is exactly what we sell,” says Chef Kevin Stringer, the mastermind behind Nitro Freeze Ice Cream Company.
By definition “N’ice Cream” is a combination of delicious ingredients, made-to-order, flash-frozen and served up with a smile and an “Aloha,” a tribute to Kevin Stringer’s long years of traveling the world with a recent two-year stay in Hawaii. “We want to share happiness, we want to share smiles,” Kevin adds.
But more than that, “N’ice Cream” is an experience. The fun begins with the selection process. There are dozens of choices that can be combined from a long list of mouthwatering ingredients from bananas and Graham crackers to mint and strawberries. There are three options for the ice cream base, from the regular vanilla flavor to an agave or honey-sweetened almond milk or soymilk.
The innovative and exciting part is the use of liquid nitrogen to flash-freeze all ingredients. The creation of each new batch of “N’ice Cream” is a spectacular experience. White clouds erupt and waver from every batch as soon as the liquid nitrogen is added.Passers-by are guaranteed to stop in their tracks.
Kevin Stringer is a lifelong surfer and outdoor enthusiast and, as graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, he saw the chance to combine both worlds.Being a chef and being able to surf more was a thought that is now a reality.
“I had the idea for the business while driving back home from a lobster diving trip to the Keys last summer. At the time I was working as the grill station chef at Fish Out of Water and, while I love being a chef, the confinement to the kitchen goes against my nature.”
With his experience in molecular gastronomy and mixology, the idea to create Nitro Freeze Ice Cream company was born and there was an opportunity to open a store. “I grew up with Carl Allen and Krissie McLaughlin. They own Hook’d Pier Bar & Grill. I am so happy that I went to them with my concept and idea. I am grateful that they gave me the opportunity to start up this business next to their restaurant.Today I enjoy being out of the trenches and actually see someone’s face when they enjoy the ice cream. With the proximity to the Gulf, I can enjoy the waves and go surfing.”
Kevin’s daughters were excited when they heard about the idea and, while both are now on summer break from North Bay Haven High School, they are helping their dad with the store and are catching waves with him during lull times. “My daughters are my life,” he says and he is proud of their involvement and interest in the business.
“If you are lactose intolerant or vegan or need to eat gluten-free, or just want to be healthy, it’s hard to find choices. You are usually stuck with one or two flavors. With us, you can come and get exactly what you want, you can pick up to three add-on flavors. Depending on your dietary needs or desires, we can serve your ice cream as gluten-free or gluten-ous as you like, ” Kevin explains.
And what do people order the most? According to Kevin, most like the vanilla ice cream base with Cosmic Brownie, Butterfinger, and Oreo Cookies. People on the healthier side choose almond coconut milk, sweetened with honey or organic liquid agave, and cinnamon. They often add fruit such as pineapple or mango and mix in coconut or maybe almonds or peanut butter.
Kevin Stringer has plans to expand the business. “A goal would be to grow the business so that I could have someone else take over by the time my daughters graduate from high school and then open other locations after that.N’ice Cream could be a great success in places like Hawaii. The next step is to offer catering for private events or even school events and music festivals.”
For more information, follow NitrofreezePCB on Instagram or look for Nitrofreeze Ice Cream Company on facebook.
Nitro Freeze is open every day from 11 am until 9:30 pm and is located at 16201 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, Florida.
Our busiest time is 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
[author image=”https://www.panamacityliving.com/media/2013/08/Val.jpg” ]Val studied communications and marketing in Germany and holds a marketing degree. She had a corporate career and has worked for nine years in media, PR and marketing internationally in Germany, England, the Caribbean and the United States. During an extended sailboat cruise n 2003, she traveled to the Gulf Coast and subsequently to Navarre, Florida and was immediately smitten with Northwest Florida. She started her first business in 2004 in Fort Walton Beach and as of July 2013, she became the sole owner and publisher of Panama City Living Magazine. She obtained her Merchant Mariner Credential (Captain’s License) right here in Panama City at SeaSchool and enjoys being on the water when she finds the time. [/author]