Ice Cream
Fall in Love With Stogo: A Vegan Ice Cream Shop
I’m in love, and my new love goes by the unlikely name of Stogo.
New York City ’s East Village is home to a new shop that hopes to revolutionize the concept of ice cream, one exquisite bite at a time, by creating a gourmet, organic and dairy-free ice cream business. Steve Hirschhorn, a former nightclub owner and now the proprietor (with partner Robert Sedgwick, co-owner) of Stogo, explains the origin of the shop’s unusual name. It all started when Steve attended “Ice Cream University” seminars taught by international ice-cream consultant Matthew Stogo.
One day, Steve spoke of dairy-free visions to Matthew, but was rebuffed by the dessert expert, who had never even heard of soy-based ice cream before. Steve recalls, “He was totally against the idea.”
But Steve persevered, and Matthew became one of the idea’s biggest fans and champions — and its namesake.
Steve personally creates all the handmade ice creams, with an unflagging dedication to inventing new varieties -- and, following Stogo’s mission, to offering the healthiest, most delectable frozen desserts possible. Thus there is no refined sugar; the products are instead sweetened with organic agave nectar or organic brown rice syrup, and contain only natural and organic ingredients. Varieties such as Mango, Strawberry, Peach, Mixed Berry and Orange Chocolate are made with organic fruits and natural sweeteners. Indeed, no artificial flavorings or preservatives can be found in the more than 25 flavors currently on rotation in the shop, such as the Coconut Vanilla Bean, a rich and smooth concoction made with pure vanilla extract and black vanilla specks from Madagascar. Hemp milk varieties are in the works as well.
Now, the Salted Caramel Pecan might sound bizarre, but the combination is magic on the palate; I compare it to a cake a la mode, with a creamy texture throughout and swirling in salted caramel and crunchy pecans. The Toasted Almond Joy is vanilla-based, with coconut, fudge and almonds, reminiscent of that well-known candy bar -- but better. Try Pomegranate Chocolate Chip, with the crunch of the chips adding a lovely texture. And if you’re a chocolate lover, you must test the Chocolate Hazelnut, with its remarkable fudge-like consistency, an undertone of hazelnut blending exquisitely with the deep chocolate.
The dizzying array can be overwhelming for the indecisive, but Stogo allows customers to take samples. In fact they practically insist you try whatever causes your gaze to linger. My server was only too happy to scoop up as many samples as I liked, and offer more suggestions. So I tried Green Tea Chai, Cardamon Pistachio, Vanilla Goji Berry Crunch, Mexican Spiced Chocolate, Bananas Foster, Coconut Chocolate Cream and Chocolate Brownie Fudge.
A wide array of toppings are on hand as well, such as goji berries, raw cacao nibs, walnuts, almonds, coconut, seasonal fruits, dark chocolate bits and granola -- and yes, even vegan mini-marshmallows and rainbow sprinkles. A sign on the counter advertises hot fudge and hot caramel.
In addition to the outstanding ice creams, Stogo sells cupcakes, cookies and assorted baked goods from BabyCakes Vegan Bakery. Those up for an over-the-top treat can try the “build your own cookie sandwich”: pick two cookies and the ice cream that goes inside. For just $4.95, that’s surely a treat that can be shared. Soft-serve ice cream is brought out in the summer, and you can always find fair-trade organic coffee, organic teas, seasonal hot chocolate and the Fine & Raw brand of raw vegan chocolate.
The shop itself is designed with a modern edge, and an eco-ethic is evident in the recycled cement floor, recycled glass countertops and eco-friendly paint. Stogo opened last December, and already there’s a real buzz about it amongst everyone from vegans to the lactose-intolerant to parents not wanting their kids having dairy products. It’s a dessert shop even the health-conscious can appreciate, given the high-quality ingredients and nutritional content of Steve’s creations.
Another Manhattan location is soon to be opened, and the future holds a Los Angeles shop, and that’s just for starters. Several New York City vegan restaurants are also showing interest in the line.
Is Stogo poised to take over the vegan ice-cream world? Well, one thing is for sure: Stogo will surely win over your heart, so grab some friends, head on over, and prepare to be astonished….And if you can convince that friend or relative who can never give up dairy to go with you, by all means, do it!
Stogo prices range from $4.25 for a small cup, $5.25 for medium, and $6.25 for large.
Stogo
Located at 159 Second Avenue (entrance on East 10 th Street between 2 nd & 3 rd Avenues)
212-677-2301
http://www.stogonyc.com
Hours of operation : Monday-Thursday: 10am-11pm, Friday-Saturday: 10am-12am, Sunday: 12pm-11pm.
