Doug Quint Courtesy Big Gay Ice Cream
For the first time, Oxford will be hosting the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck today outside of Big Bad Breakfast, located at 219 N. Lamar Blvd, starting at 2 p.m. and closing at 9 p.m. The stop in Oxford is part of the company’s 2014 Southern tour.
The company works to sell out-of-the-box ice cream.
According to their business profile, “Our menu combines traditional soft-serve ice cream with non-traditional toppings, such as wasabi pea dust, olive oil and sea salt, dulce de leche and many other rotating offerings. All of this is dispensed the way ice cream should be – with humor and good cheer.”
The origins of Big Gay Ice Cream can be traced back to the summer of 2009, when co-owner Douglas Quint got his hands on an ice cream truck, only looking “to do something fun” at the time with fellow co-owner Bryan Petroff. The seasonal truck became an instant favorite treat in New York, the publicity of which led to the duo opening up the first Big Gay Ice Cream Shop in 2011, a second shop in 2012 and a third shop in Los Angeles last spring.
The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck will serve the general public today, and this Saturday it will be participating in the Southern Foodways Alliance Symposium in Oxford.
Patty Devery, office manager for the company, is excited for the truck to serve in Oxford.
“We’re expecting people to come get ice cream and have a good time,” Devery said. “We’re excited to work with John T. Edge and John Currence at the symposium and with John Currence at his restaurant, Big Bad Breakfast.”
Right now the Big Gay Ice Cream company is on their southern tour, with Oxford last on the list after visiting Birmingham, Charleston and Raleigh.
The tour intentionally ends in Oxford, finishing with the tour at the symposium.
Devery explained why the company chose to visit Oxford.
“It was the fifth anniversary of the truck, and we were invited to the Southern Foodways (Alliance) Symposium, so the idea was floated to bring the truck on the tour of the South,” Devery said.
Devery said the opportunity was an exciting way to bring the ice cream to those who have wanted to try and see the brand’s ice cream.
“We intend to serve ice cream and a good time,” Devery said. “And we’re looking forward to seeing who comes out to the truck.”
