Feeling the Chill

SPOTLIGHT

Feeling the Chill Uncle Joey’s brings the ice to the North Valley T he most fun Joey Hunsader had was as a child, driving his car around Janesville, Wisconsin, delivering pizzas. By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Philadelphia’s is more like shaved ice with a rough texture.

After a stint with the military and a desk attention,” Hunsader job with USAA, the North Phoenix resident says. “I thought I’d decided he needed to have more moments bring Chicago-style like those. Italian ice to Phoe

Uncle Joey’s Ice and Bites food truck made nix. There’s nothing its debut in mid-May, selling Italian ice and here like Chicagodairy-free ice cream. style Italian ice. It’s

“The dairy-free ice cream is coconut based,” smooth and it’s nothHunsader says. “It tastes just like regular ice ing like shaved ice. cream. I’ve given it to some customers, and “When mine hits they said, ‘This has no dairy in it?’ and they your tongue, you’ll double take the menu. It’s vegan, too. think this is differ

“It’s a big hit right now with everything ent. It doesn’t taste that’s going on. It’s like comfort food.” like shaved ice. That’s

Hunsader chose coconut-based dairy treats why I wanted to bring because of the ease of making and keeping it here. When people the product. say, ‘I’ve never had that before,’ it makes me

“It’s a little better for your gut, too,” he says. happy.” “I noticed that when I ate dairy and went out Moving to Arizona was a dream for Hunin the sun, my gut felt like it was curdling.” sader. When he was a child, his family flew

Italian ice was a no-brainer. He and his to Phoenix and then drove to Tucson to visit family drove from Janesville to the heart his grandparents. of Chicago to get Midwest-style Italian ice. “That’s where the seed was planted in my New York Italian ice is watery, he says, while head,” he adds. “When I was 18 and out of

“When I was a child, my Uncle Mike brought this to my

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.

“Uncle” Joey Hunsader says one of his favorite flavors at his food truck is tropical punch Italian ice.

There’s no holding back with his dairy-free ice cream.

“Everybody’s favorite is salted caramel dairy-free ice cream,” Hunsader says. “I really don’t have any set flavors. I want to try a lot and see what people like and do crazy stuff. I want to do polls online with 10 different flavors and see what people like. Once I get the following, I’ll start to do that stuff on social media.”

Hosting tastings has lived up to Hunsader’s expectations. He announces his locations via social media.

“This doesn’t feel like a job,” he says. “That’s why I wanted to get into this line of work again. I just want to have fun. I’m done working and I want to have fun with life.”

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