181: Cynthia Wong, Life Raft Treats (Charleston, SC)

Who’s ready for some ice cream? After a resume build that reads like a “best restaurants in the South” list incl. Cakes & Ale in Atlanta, Empire State South also in Atlanta, Rhubarb in Asheville, and Butcher & Bee in Charleston, Chef Cynthia Wong left the pressures of a restaurant kitchen to hit the streets on her own in a food truck she calls Life Raft Treats, making and serving grown up novelty ice creams and pint flavors. Sweets are Cynthia’s artistic medium, and her current crayon box of ice cream perfection garnered her a sixth James Beard nomination for Outstanding Pastry Chef from the inside of this tiny truck. Her combo of talent and sense of humor is all wrapped up in the cool treats she sometimes calls “weaponized mouth joy,” so here’s a bite of joy for your beginning of summer.