Imagine this: Two neighbors, one a creative art teacher, the other a science teacher with an understanding of formulas. Each owns an ice cream maker. Suddenly they find themselves trying to outdo each other with their own unique concoctions, and a whole neighborhood enjoys the spoils of war in the form of some of the best ice cream flavors many of them have ever tasted. And then the idea strikes to combine forces and start mass-producing and marketing their frozen treats.
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According to Jason Wulf, the art teacher (and poster and label designer) half of Lake Effect Ice Cream, this is exactly how he and neighbor Erik Bernardi started their fledgling business. Right now the duo is trying to keep up with demand as they find themselves in TOPS in Lockport and supplying small festivals and events all over the region. Summers are easier, as both Wulf and Bernardi are married to school teachers who are able to pitch in during the off-school months, but as Wulf said, "Winter doesn't slow ice cream consumption down around here. It's a year-round thing, no matter what the weather is. They want ice cream."
It's no wonder, when you consider the flavors Lake Effect puts out. "There's almost nothing we can't work into a flavor," Wulf says. Consider the newest, Chocolate Chicken Wing, or those in development, such as Thai Chai and Banana Pancakes. There's also a Salty Caramel, Guinness Stout and Crystal Beach Loganberry.
Lake Effect is in talks right now to move into the Buffalo market. "We've worked around the local food circuit, and we'd love to get into the Lexington Co-op and Premier Gourmet, both of which have shown great interest. We're also talking about the Bidwell Farmer's Market, but right now our problem is getting things there...frozen." The next endeavor then, will be finding refrigerated trucks that can transport Lake Effect as wide as the audience that awaits it.
A defining moment came for Lake Effect when they brought ice cream into Niagara Produce and were told to move the Ben & Jerry's down to the next shelf to make room for their own brand. Wulf noted the milestone on Lake Effect's blog, saying: Newton wrote "Pigmaei gigantum humeris impositi plusquam ipsi gigantes vident." We don't speak Latin either, so what it translates to is "if I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."
Sweet Cream Lavender with Raspberry, Chocolate Cinnamon and Moscato with Apricot; get the truck situation worked out soon, boys, and perhaps someone will make Lake Effect their year-round day job. The art and science of ice cream, indeed.
Pictured above: Wulf with his son, Logan, and Bernardi
ha, that's a funny and great story. Can't wait to try some.