S P OT L I G H T
Feeling the Chill Uncle Joey’s brings the ice to the North Valley By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
T
he most fun Joey Hunsader had was as a child, driving his car around Janesville, Wisconsin, delivering pizzas. After a stint with the military and a desk job with USAA, the North Phoenix resident decided he needed to have more moments like those. Uncle Joey’s Ice and Bites food truck made its debut in mid-May, selling Italian ice and dairy-free ice cream. “The dairy-free ice cream is coconut based,” Hunsader says. “It tastes just like regular ice cream. I’ve given it to some customers, and they said, ‘This has no dairy in it?’ and they double take the menu. It’s vegan, too. “It’s a big hit right now with everything that’s going on. It’s like comfort food.” Hunsader chose coconut-based dairy treats because of the ease of making and keeping the product. “It’s a little better for your gut, too,” he says. “I noticed that when I ate dairy and went out in the sun, my gut felt like it was curdling.” Italian ice was a no-brainer. He and his family drove from Janesville to the heart of Chicago to get Midwest-style Italian ice. New York Italian ice is watery, he says, while
Philadelphia’s is more like shaved ice with a rough texture. “When I was a child, my Uncle Mike brought this to my attention,” Hunsader says. “I thought I’d bring Chicago-style Italian ice to Phoenix. There’s nothing here like Chicagostyle Italian ice. It’s smooth and it’s nothing like shaved ice. “When mine hits your tongue, you’ll think this is different. It doesn’t taste like shaved ice. That’s why I wanted to bring it here. When people say, ‘I’ve never had that before,’ it makes me happy.” Moving to Arizona was a dream for Hunsader. When he was a child, his family flew to Phoenix and then drove to Tucson to visit his grandparents. “That’s where the seed was planted in my head,” he adds. “When I was 18 and out of
Uncle Joey’s Ice and Bites has smallbatch Italian ice and homemade dairyfree ice cream, starting at $3 and $4, respectively. (Photos by Nicole M. Pavey)
high school, I packed up and drove my car down here—just me and MapQuest.” Hunsader landed his first job in pipeline construction and later joined the Marine Corps. He lived in Okinawa for three years and saw combat in Afghanistan for four years. When he returned to Phoenix, he served as an USAA customer service representative. “That’s what got me into this role,” Hunsader says. “It really wasn’t for me. I’m glad I did it to get the experience, though. I quit my job in February, right before this coronavirus stuff started. It was a blessing in disguise.” After coming up with the idea for the food truck, he needed the vehicle. He bought an enclosed trailer from Deer Valley Trailer and “started knocking it out.” For two weeks, Hunsader, his father and uncle build “a little house on a trailer”—the HVAC, plumbing and windows. “My dad is ready to do it again,” he says with a laugh. “He says we can get one done in half the time now.” Hunsader says he can serve any flavor imaginable for his Italian ice, ranging from pina colada and mango to tropical punch. Joey Hunsader served time in the Marine Corps before opening Uncle Joey’s Ice and Bites
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85085 | JUNE 2020
