For Throwback Thursday today go way back to exactly five years ago when we poked our heads inside a new ice cream outfit in Kits called Rain or Shine as they served their first customers on opening day:
A new ice cream parlour officially opened today on the West 4th strip in Kits. Rain Or Shine is a nine seat beauty brought to us by Josie Fenton and Blair Casey, two first timers with backgrounds in teaching and finance.
The pair were married just last year and they’re super gung-ho about feeding us high quality ice cream (made in the back using an Emery Thompson machine) without artificial flavours, corn syrup, or any nasties. They’re also wicked friendly, and share playful senses of humour and design; witness their ice cream tacos, weather report signage, milk bottle light fixtures, tractor seat stools, fetching aprons, and the horse shoe nailed to the wall behind their ice cream machine.
They offer fifteen flavours at a time – ten permanent “keepers” and five fluctuating “seasonal flings”. I tried a few yesterday – salted caramel, mint chocolate, stout, blueberry – and they were fantastic. Nearly all of their ingredients are locally sourced. Think honey from Campbells in Aldergrove, lavender from Octagon in Maple Ridge, apples from Taves Farm in Abbotsford, wine from Vancouver Urban Winery, espresso beans from JJ Bean, beer from Brassneck, et cetera.
The stuff that they can’t find locally – things like coconuts and ginger – are organic and fair trade. They use compostable packaging, and get their power from Cowpower, a local non-profit green electricity supplier that provides BC businesses, homes and events with renewable electricity solutions. They haven’t left out the vegans either, so top marks across the board.
I love the name, the location, the passion, and the branding by Glasfurd & Walker (see also Meat & Bread, Ask For Luigi, among many others). These guys are stoked about what they’re doing, and it comes across clearly and deliciously on the spoon.
Sincere congratulations to founders Josie Fenton and Blair Casey with best wishes for continued success!
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Kitsilano
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Aw thanks Andrew! We’re so happy and appreciative that you came in and for your continued support! You really helped us get the word out in those early days. What a ride it continues to be!
X Josie
We always visit when we travel to Vancouver. Come visit Hawaii and maybe we can talk about opening a store here! Talk about great local flavors!