[vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” background_image=”1626″ css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”400px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” use_row_as_full_screen_section_slide=”no” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1551303154945{padding-top: 15px !important;padding-right: 15px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;padding-left: 15px !important;background-color: rgba(24,41,87,0.8) !important;*background-color: rgb(24,41,87) !important;}”]<\/p>\n
[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”100px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1551303428596{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1551303435545{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”]<\/p>\n
DELICIOUS BLEND: Ice cream equals happiness, says Seid, who believes food introduces people to other cultures and brings people together.<\/em><\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”25px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n Christina Seid \u201902 co-owns the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, or CICF, an unofficial New York City landmark that has made the pages of several Big Apple guidebooks.People come from near and far to enjoy scoopfuls of the factory\u2019s homemade red bean, lychee, and green-tea ice creams.<\/p>\n Running a business is in her genes. Her grandfather was a merchant in China and her father started CICF more than 40 years ago. She grew up within CICF\u2019s small yet familial 500 square feet, where she saw how ice cream could make people happy.<\/p>\n Seid says she\u2019s completing a circle\u2014a symbol for unity and fulfillment\u2014around her family business. Although her father has yet to put down his ice cream scoop completely, he is in the process of passing it on to her. And, just as she spent much of her childhood there, her two young daughters now do the same.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]What do you love about the ice cream business?<\/strong><\/p>\n Ice cream is fantastic\u2014in fact, we consider it a major food group in our family. It\u2019s all about giving people a delicious, great experience and making them happy. It\u2019s also about community, and we\u2019ve been part of Chinatown for decades.<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]What are your favorite memories at CICF?<\/strong><\/p>\n So many things! Coming to work with my dad, having my first birthday cake here, and remembering how much my grandma loved it here. And being a part of some very important occasions for people, including engagements and family get-togethers.<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Did you always know you\u2019d be part of the family business?<\/strong><\/p>\n No. After graduating with my psychology degree from Rochester, I went on to get my master\u2019s in teaching. I taught for a few years while continuing to work at CICF on weekends, vacations, and during the summers. But the business took off, and it made sense for me to play a bigger role. I couldn\u2019t be happier with that decision.<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]What\u2019s next for the business?<\/strong><\/p>\n We recently opened a location in Flushing and are opening another one in the new Lower East Side development Essex Crossing this spring. Our mission at each location is consistent: to offer great tasting ice cream based on flavors that feel like home to our customers. Our new Lower East Side Ice Cream Factory features flavors that resonate with the Jewish, Polish, Italian, and Hispanic communities there. Think horchata, tiramisu, and even pickle.<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]What\u2019s your most unusual flavor?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019ll say Durian. In Asia, Durian is known as the king of fruits. It\u2019s also known for its strong, complicated flavor. We were the first to offer Durian ice cream in New York City, and now others do. Andrew Zimmerman\u2014the host of the Travel Channel\u2019s Bizarre Foods\u2014did a short segment here a few years ago. Up until then, he never liked Durian. He really liked our ice cream, which felt like a big win to me!<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]How did your time at Rochester prepare you for your life and career?<\/strong><\/p>\n I transferred to Rochester as a sophomore and fell in love with it right away. I thrived on being around a lot of very smart people. My fondest memory is of Dean Paul Burgett and an inspiring talk he gave to transfer students. He made me and everyone else feel special, confident, and capable of doing anything. I\u2019ll never forget that. He helped infuse the spirit of Meliora in me, of always wanting to do more and do it better.<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”25px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” text_align=”left” background_color=”#e9e5d7″ css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”50px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n In addition to flavors from ginger to pumpkin pie, Chinatown Ice Cream Factory offers innovative blends and ice creams based on ingredients native to China and other Asian nations.<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”25px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” use_row_as_full_screen_section_slide=”no” text_align=”center” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/5″][vc_column_text]Almond Cookie<\/strong><\/p>\n Chinese almond cookies soaked and blended into ice cream[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/5″][vc_column_text]Black Sesame<\/strong><\/p>\n Ice cream spiked with black sesame seeds[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/5″][vc_column_text]Coconut Fudge<\/strong><\/p>\n Chocolate fudge swirled in coconut ice cream[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/5″][vc_column_text]Don Tot<\/strong><\/p>\n Light, creamy Chinese egg custard[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/5″][vc_column_text]Lychee<\/strong><\/p>\n Ice cream blended with lychee, a tropical fruit native to China[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” use_row_as_full_screen_section_slide=”no” text_align=”center” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/5″][vc_column_text]Pandan<\/strong><\/p>\nAn alumna mixes it up\u2014ice cream, entrepreneurship, and deep roots in Manhattan\u2019s Chinatown.<\/h3>\n
On the Menu<\/h3>\n