Join us for our June virtual #HatcheryNetworking event! Our monthly Hatchery Networking events are a wonderful way to meet entrepreneurs and other members of our community and dig into the big topics impacting the food and beverage industry. This month we’re exploring the exciting new innovations in the frozen dessert category! We are thrilled to announce our panelists, Dana Cree of Pretty Cool Ice Cream, Jessica and Erik of Fronen, and Natasha Case of Coolhaus.
About the panel:
Dana Salls Cree, Pastry Chef and Owner, Pretty Cool Ice Cream
Dana Salls Cree is an award-winning pastry artist and chef. Her career began in Seattle, WA, and after experiencing such restaurants as Wolfgang Puck’s Spago and The Fat in Duck, in Bray, England, Salls Cree signed on with Paul Kahan and One Off Hospitality, where she ran the pastry program. In 2018, she opened the Logan Square-based ice cream company, Pretty Cool Ice Cream, in partnership with Michael Ciapciak of Bang Bang Pie. Specializing in frozen novelties such as ice cream bars, popsicles, and push pops, Pretty Cool is now available to the public via self-operated storefronts in Chicago, wholesale partnerships with groceries stores, and catering for private and public events.
Jessica Gartenstein & Erik Nadeau, Founders and Owners, Frönen
Jessica Gartenstein was diagnosed with celiac disease at thirteen, and after growing up with a gluten-free and dairy-free diet, she noticed that there weren’t many healthy and tasty non-dairy ice cream options. Determined to not let food allergies restrict one of life’s greatest joys, she partnered with colleague and college friend Erik Nadeau, beginning Frönen. Based off Erik’s grandmother’s fruit-based “nice cream” recipes, they offer culinary creations that are filled with flavor but light on guilt. Frönen today is available now to the public through grocery store partnerships and Chicago Foxtrot delivery service.
Natasha Case, Founder & CEO, Coolhaus
Natasha Case founded Coolhaus in 2009 with wife Freya Estreller, leaving their daytime jobs to make the ice cream product that they’ve always wanted to buy. This architecture-inspired ice cream sandwich company launched from a barely drivable van at the Coachella Music Festival where the brand went viral. Coolhaus has since scaled to a national fleet of trucks in LA and NYC, a flagship store and innovation center in Culver City, and a booming grocery business. Natasha is devoted to leading Coolhaus‘ social mission of inspiring the next generation of women and LGBTQ entrepreneurs to turn their dreams into realities.
