Providence-When Linnette Lopez Torres decided to start a food truck business in 2019, the Japanese-Latin American fusion ice cream shop was not the first thing she thought of.
"I think the chicken and waffle truck will suit me," she said.
Then she remembered seeing a fish-shaped Japanese red bean pastry called taiyaki during her trip across the United States.
Combining a love of ice cream (helado in Spanish) and her family’s Puerto Rican ancestry, Torres set out to start Helado Taiyaki.
This Rhode Island native bought and refurbished an old truck from a family member in 2019. She set her sights on opening in 2020 and watched COVID-19 bring a widespread lockdown.
"But I have gone deep into it, and I can't stop moving forward."
Parked her truck at the foot of the pedestrian bridge in the city center, Helado Taiyaki achieved immediate success. Its outdoor business alleviated people’s fear of COVID. Rhode Islanders from all walks of life gained sweetness from the social chaos at the time. respite.
"Everything I was afraid of was taken off my shoulders," she said. "This business attracts everyone, which makes me happy because this is what I want to do."
The business became so successful that Torres moved to a physical store at 102 Dean St. in April, which she was able to get at a discounted rent due to the pandemic pricing.
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"Although I have a truck, I keep seeing this place empty," she said.
According to Torres, the team on the opening day in April extended all the way to the block. She attributed the success of this adventure to a large extent to her love of ice cream. But there is no doubt that her choice of adventurous taste inspired by her childhood is another factor.
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"I always mix things with ice cream," Torres said. I used to scrape off the vanilla from ice cream sandwiches and then mashed the frosted flakes. "
The business is part of Providence's growing trend of Asian-Latin fusion, which kicked off with the opening of the Dominican-Japanese fusion restaurant El Ninja Sush on Broad Street.
One look at the menu, the integration of Helado Taiyaki is obvious.
This is where cones such as "Maria, Maria" appear. Inspired by the ubiquitous Maria biscuits in Spanish and Portuguese families, this flavor features vanilla ice cream in a sea yaki cone, topped with Maria biscuits, guava drizzle, and two whole biscuits . There are guava and cream cheese in the tail of the taiyaki.
According to Torres, one of the best-selling products in the industry is the Oreo egg roll, because "everyone knows Oreo."
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It consists of vanilla ice cream and crushed Oreo cookies, chocolate drizzle, whole Oreo cookies and cookie cream sticks. The tail of the taiyaki cone is filled with peanut sauce.
Another bestseller is Extraordinary Cone. It is made with vanilla ice cream in a sea bream cone with vanilla custard on the tail. Toppings include condensed milk, her own strawberry drizzle, and shortbread crumbles.
Although these may be some of the highlights, Helado Taiyaki also offers many other options that aim to blend Latino and Japanese culinary traditions.
In addition to the menu, the store also offers special holiday specials, which Lopez said people can find on the store’s Instagram account: @helado_ taiyaki.
Lopez added that integration is not the real secret of her success.
"I want to do what is true to me, not just what I know is done," she said. "I want to keep Latin too."
Details: Helado Taiyaki, 102 Dean St., Providence, every Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm to 9pm, Friday to 10pm, Saturday from 2pm to 10pm and Sunday from 2pm to night Open at 8 o'clock
Kevin G. Andrade on Twitter @KevinGAndrade