Cream & Sugar to hold Grand Opening — with "new" treats

ENP STAFF REPORTS
news@eastniagarapost.com

---

Jason and Jessica Dittly take time out from a busy day at Cream & Sugar Ice Cream  Cafe on East Avenue. (PHOTOS BY HEATHER N. GRIMMER / CONTRIBUTOR)

Cream & Sugar Ice Cream Cafe waited 10 months from their original opening to have a grand opening, planned from 4 p.m. Friday. Many East Niagarans would agree their latest addition — Udder Delights Ice Cream — is truly grand.

Jason and Jessica Dittly opened the doors to their ice cream cafe at the corner of East Avenue and McCollum Street last summer — a little later than they had planned. They bought the shop in 2009. Then had twins. And as they had prepared to open the shop in 2012 they had another child on the way. With the family set, the ice cream shop opened on Aug. 1.

“We opened as an artisan ice cream shop with a full espresso bar and fresh smoothie and juice bar, but quickly grew more into the identity of a Cafe/Bistro with a full ice cream menu”  according to Jason Dittly.

Jessica Dittly added, "When we opened last August we were pretty set in staying with ice cream, desserts and coffee. However once we introduced lunch in October it changed the game and we had to reevaluate our business to balance the coffee shop with eatery. So far our food options have been quite limited but we make everything fresh and try to keep it at a very high caliber in terms of quality, taste and overall experience."

There is a touch of the Dittlys throughout Cream & Sugar Ice Cream Cafe. Jason says his wife puts an artistic touch on everything.

From coffee and ice cream to wraps and salads, the shop evolved into a lot more than it started as.

"Western New York has an amazing heritage of agriculture and foods, which should be celebrated,” Jessica said. “We are lucky to be surrounded by this area’s rich farm community and so many artisan food producers. We enjoy utilizing and celebrating them in our foods.”

The cafe works directly with local farms and bakeries, creating pleasure foods both sweet and decadent — and fresh and healthy. Their partners include Dan Towers Farm in Youngstown, Singer Farm Naturals in Appleton, Bruce Feigel Apiaries in Appleton, and The Bread Basket in Medina to name a few. They also participate in McCollum Orchards CSA program and will be basing its “specials” on what becomes available throughout the growing season.

But what about that new ice cream?

Cream & Sugar's outdoor eating area is always busy when the weather allows.

"Randy Palladino of Udder Delights had been a customer of ours and we began a light conversation with him offering a 'crazy idea' to stick some Udder Delights in our case and see how people would respond," Jessica said. "From there it grew into a great partnership with actual goals for the collaboration to take place. We found out through our course of conversations that our families have known each other for years, making the partnership even more special and dear to our hearts and mission."

The shop will feature between two and six flavors of Udder Delights on a regular basis — mixed in with its currently selections of Perry's Ice Cream. The limited selection of Udder Delights will allow the Palladino family to be creative and make whatever flavors strike them as inspiring.

Jessica said their biggest surprise since opening has been "how wildly accepted we have become in the city. It is such a humbling experience to be thanked for opening up our dream. We are the ones who are constantly thankful. For it to be mirrored by our customers is staggering."

Their customers have grown exponentially in number from their opening. And so has their staff. Originally planned as a two-person operation, the couple has since hired a staff of nine to help them with day to day operations.

Jason and Jessica Dittly talk about business. The couple is hosting a grand opening at their East Avenue ice cream shop on Friday.

---

East Niagara Post publishes garage and yard sale listings.
Click here for all the details.