Pat and Stick’s most excellent ice cream adventure…

One of the wonderful things about going to the Farmers Markets every week is that you meet some fascinating people in the business of a-makin’ and a-growin’ great food.  LM laughs at me, but I love the opportunity to chat to the people directly responsible for the produce I am buying (and then eating).  I have been known to share a recipe (strange but true, Shira!) and I know I go back to the stalls and spend more where I have established a level of rapport with the providore.

Last week was no exception – the boys from Pat and Stick’s were dispensing their wares at Eveleigh. I had absolutely zero intention of picking up any form of ice cream on Saturday but then we bumped into Stick (who is a very tall and extremely happy and chatty chappy) who was doing the selling when we strolled by…  (we bought four sandwiches AND were on the receiving end of a great dry ice story)

The Pat and Stick story is a goody.  The boys are mates and got to chatting over a few beers.  They share a love of food and, after agreeing that the ice cream offerings in Australia (at the time) were pretty ordinary, started mucking about in their home kitchens with a Breville ice cream maker.  Out of this, the idea of their ice cream sandwich business was born. They chucked in their jobs and started up, initially just selling at markets.

They are committed to using only the finest ingredients like Belgian chocolate, real vanilla beans, espresso coffee, real butter, and fresh Australian milk and cream. In their words, “you won’t find any preservatives, artificial whatevers or fake fillery. It’s real food, made by real people, right here in Australia.”

Flavour combos are delish’:

There is something extra appealing about two good mates who are clearly so enthusiastic about their product.  They have a great wee vid’ about their history:

Now, if you live in Sydney and have yet to try a Pat and Stick’s ice cream sandwich, get thee to a stockist at your earliest convenience…  If you live in Melbourne, Brisbane or Canberra, there’s a list of where you can buy these gourmet ‘Eskimo Sammies’ (aka ice cream sandwiches) on the Pat and Stick’s website (here).  AND, if you happen to live in Auckland, you can get a Pat and Stick’s at Sarge’s, a well cool-looking Airstream at Britomart. Everyone else, Pat and Stick have yet to achieve world domination, but it does give you another reason to come and visit sunny Sydney!