Ep6 - Ice Cream w/Tara Esperanza of T.O.I.C. - Tara's Organic Ice Cream

Tara Esperanza of Tara's Organic Ice Cream. photo by Jennifer Esperanza

Tara Esperanza of Tara's Organic Ice Cream. photo by Jennifer Esperanza

This week it's ice cream! Listen above to hear how, why and when ice cream became the world-wide popular dish that it is is. Everyone has their own memories and preferences relating to this frozen treat that it delicious served with fruit, cake in a cone or on its own - I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.  We'll uncover where ice cream originated and how design helped it to go from a food reserved only for the wealthy elite to a food enjoyed by people of all ages, backgrounds all over the world. We'll look at artworks that celebrate this food that is so connected to our pleasure senses. I'll be looking at the artwork of Pablo Picasso, Evelyne Axell and Chila Kumari Burman

Tara Esperanza of Tara's Organic Ice Cream and I chatted about ice cream, food culture, memories, trends and the artistry of food. Tara and I go way back and her passion is such an inspiration as a friend, artist, woman and businessperson. You can find Tara’s Organic Ice Cream at their two California shops, one in Oakland and one in Berkeley. They have a loyal following owing to their ethos of organic, hand-crafted, quality and sustainability and their offering of over 173 flavours which are made with limited availability or seasonal ingredients. So, alongside the classics such as vanilla, chocolate, strawberry ad coffee there are flavours such as Adzuki Black Sesame, Baobab, Cardamom, Lucuma, Pink Peppercorn,  Pandan, Camote, Vegan sorbets and more. T.O.I.C. is hand crafted in small batches, with only the purest organic ingredients. They do NOT add any emulsifiers or stabilizers, they use fresh herbs and freshly ground spices, work with local farms for the dairy, seasonal fruits, and herbs. T.O.I.C. is about honoring the flavor and not sweetness.

 
 
Tara's Organic Ice Cream. photo by Jennifer Esperanza

Tara's Organic Ice Cream. photo by Jennifer Esperanza

Tara's Organic Ice Cream. photo by Jennifer Esperanza

Tara's Organic Ice Cream. photo by Jennifer Esperanza

Tara Esperanza

Tara Esperanza

Tara Esperanza

Tara Esperanza

Tara Esperanza

Tara Esperanza

Family Portrait by Raciel Esperanza (esperanzaraciel@gmail.com

Family Portrait by Raciel Esperanza (esperanzaraciel@gmail.com

Stubborn Dog Pottery from Kristen Gentilucci (IG: @kgentilucc) - These ceramic spoons are crafted with wooden handles. They are made from foraged driftwood and weathered tree branches from the high Sierras and local beaches. For sale at Tara's Organ…

Stubborn Dog Pottery from Kristen Gentilucci (IG: @kgentilucc) - These ceramic spoons are crafted with wooden handles. They are made from foraged driftwood and weathered tree branches from the high Sierras and local beaches. For sale at Tara's Organic Ice Cream Shop - 3173 College Ave Berkeley

 

A big part of T.O.I.C. is partnership working in line with their ethos, here are links to the partners that Tara mentions on the podcast:

Agnes B Marshall, the Victorian culinary businesswoman aka "The Queen of Ices" (1855-1905)

Agnes B Marshall, the Victorian culinary businesswoman aka "The Queen of Ices" (1855-1905)

Marshall's Ice Freezer patent

Marshall's Ice Freezer patent

Cralle's “Ice Cream Mold and Disher” patent

Cralle's “Ice Cream Mold and Disher” patent

Alfred L. Cralle, African American businessman (1866-1920)

Alfred L. Cralle, African American businessman (1866-1920)

Picasso - Man with A Straw Hat and an Ice Cream, 1938

Picasso - Man with A Straw Hat and an Ice Cream, 1938

 

The Picasso’s painting is often described as “fun” and “bristling” “a celebration of the ice cream cone” and “an enlightening link to portraiture of past masters”.

 

Axell’s work is described as “erotic” “feminist” ”political” and representative of the sexual liberation movement of the 1960s. This painting was removed from the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Facebook page due to it “containing excessive amounts of skin or suggestive content”.

Evelyne Axell - Ice Cream, 1964

Evelyne Axell - Ice Cream, 1964

Chila Kumari Burman - Cornet and Screwballs go Vegas, mixed media, 2010

Chila Kumari Burman - Cornet and Screwballs go Vegas, mixed media, 2010

Chila Kumari Burman - AUTO-PORTRAIT 1996-2013, Inkjet print on paper and canvas, size: A2-A0

Chila Kumari Burman - AUTO-PORTRAIT 1996-2013, Inkjet print on paper and canvas, size: A2-A0

Chila Kumari Burman - EAT ME NOW Mixed media, size 5ft, 2013

Chila Kumari Burman - EAT ME NOW
Mixed media, size 5ft, 2013

Coffee, black cherry & black pepper ice cream on amaretto biscuit crumb base with black cherries @SmyGoodness

Coffee, black cherry & black pepper ice cream on amaretto biscuit crumb base with black cherries @SmyGoodness

Brownie bowl filled with homemade vanilla and six-pepper jelly roasted nuts and sea salt ice cream topped with nuts and served on a bed of nut crumbs @SmyGoodness

Brownie bowl filled with homemade vanilla and six-pepper jelly roasted nuts and sea salt ice cream topped with nuts and served on a bed of nut crumbs @SmyGoodness

Show Notes:
0-2.30 - Episode Intro
2.30-7.30 - Ice cream, history and design
7.30-10.15 - Picasso, Axell, Burman - artists and ice cream epiction
10.15 - 57 - Tara Esperanza of T.O.I.C. interview
57-59 - episode closing comments

 

A few years back I decided to bundle all my interests together and rebrand from Smy Chutney to Smy Goodness so that all my preserves, crafts, products and workshops could live together in one place. My own podcast seemed a suitable place to uncover, understand and enjoy things related to food, art, history and design. Please do share your stories, knowledge, questions and suggestions. In the Smy Goodness.com podcast section you will find the podcasts and all the items that we are discussing and will have ongoing discussions about each week.

You can also follow Smy Goodness on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr. I'd like to thank Matteo Borea for creating the music and Ashley Palmer for assisting with recording gear and queries. Thank you for listening.