Fort Wayne’s Brooklyn Pints Microcreamery dispenses frozen heaven for ice cream enthusiasts, offering handcrafted flavors scooped by Culinary Institute of America grads Trisha Tran and Brian Therkildsen. Housed on the ground floor of the 1920s-built Sheridan Court, a must-see for architectural enthusiasts, it’s the perfect location for these former New York City fine-dining chefs, who decamped in 2022 to Therkildsen’s hometown post-pandemic. Tran, who worked in Michelin-starred Manhattan restaurants, creates inventive tasting profiles with her churning partner such as cinnamon honey, Thai tea and pineapple upside-down cake along with vegan treats like peach crumble and blueberry corn. Did we mention house-baked waffle cones for the ice cream and other baked treats such as cookies and beignets? We caught up with chef Trisha recently for a quick Q&A. (And we’d like a bite of that peach crumble, please!)
What made you want to become a chef?
Watching my grandma cook traditional Vietnamese food as a child.
What is your favorite type of food and why?
My favorite type of food is any type of soup. Soup is versatile and offers comfort in every culture.
Where do you get your inspiration?
We get our inspiration from everywhere! We’re constantly trying new things and seeing if we can make an ice cream flavor out of them.
What is your favorite thing to make for yourself and your family?
I don’t have a favorite or a “go-to” dish. When I have time, I like teaching myself how to make Vietnamese dishes because I live far away from my family now. I want to learn and bring back that nostalgia from my childhood.
If you could eat anywhere in the world, where would that be, and what would you eat?
A goal of ours right now is Japan, and I would want to eat where the locals eat! I want to try all the curry, ramen, sushi, snacks, etc., and immerse myself fully in their food culture!
If you could choose a favorite place in Indiana to visit, where would that be located, and what would you eat?
There are SO many places in Indiana to explore. I can’t pick one; I want to try them all!
What items are always in your fridge?
Eggs, rice, bread, cheese, vegetables and chicken nuggets. Being business owners, we work long days, and when we get home, we want something quick and easy… you’ll find our fridge usually empty, but we typically try to keep these foods in our fridge for fast and easy meals!
