Jenny Marie's Gelati is Serving Up Smiles on 2nd Street
“I wanted to create a place where people could spend time together and create memories.” - Jenny Loughmiller
Rita and Jenny Loughmiller pose for a photo in front of the newly opened Jenny Marie’s. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
By Cole Goodwin
The 2nd street food cart pod at 801 E 2nd St in downtown The Dalles. is looking a little busier these days, and for good reason: Jenny Marie’s Italian Ice and Custard has opened for business!
As I, and my sweet tooth were driving by, I just couldn’t help but be drawn in by this sweet little dessert truck nestled in next to Smoke Wring BBQ.
Customer wait their turn to order a delicious frozen treat. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
So I decided to stop by and give it a try.
Standing behind the counter, with a big smile on her face was none other frozen dessert expert, and new dessert truck owner Jenny Loughmiller.
As I stood in line I watched Jenny and her daughter Rita, age 10, as they greeted each customer and served up smiles with every delicious scoop of Italian ice and custard.
It was amazing to watch people’s spirit’s lift and their faces transform the moment they took their first bite.
It looked so good, I decided I needed one.
When I finally got to the window I ordered a mini Tiger's Blood Gelati, which is a strawberry coconut flavored Italian ice with vanilla frozen custard sandwiched in the middle, kind of like a creamsicle. I took one bite and I could feel myself lighting up with yumminess.
Meanwhile Jenny assured me that no tigers were harmed in the making of the dessert.
“We use all natural ingredients and we hand make everything we serve,” said Jenny. “There are no artificial colors or flavors. Our blue is made from spirulina, yellow is turmeric, our red is from beet juice.”
Jenny tells me that there are new flavors every week so if you don’t see your favorite on the menu today you can always try back again later.
“We rotate our flavors. We focus on making sure everything is as fresh as possible. So we make our flavors and our frozen custard fresh daily,” said Jenny.
Jenny announces her flavor of the week on instagram. The flavor of this week is rainbow! Happy Pride Month!
I ask Rita what her favorite flavor is.
“Well if I’m being honest, probably chocolate or raspberry,” said Rita. “A good mix would be strawberry and chocolate. That’s probably my favorite mix.”
Jenny showing Rita how much custard counts as a half scoop. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
And for Jenny?
“If I’m binge eating at night then I’m gonna go for the chocolate. But for my favorite I would probably go with strawberry lemon. It’s super light and refreshing,” said Jenny.
While Jenny is a dessert artist today, she didn’t start out that way. A passionate artist by nature, she is probably best known for her Hundred Hearts Project, a transformational gratitude project that sought to change lives through one hundred acts of gratitude.
“The summer of 2016 was brutal for me,” said Jenny.
“My life imploded, I sunk into deep depression, and I realized that my heart, instead of being a lush, vibrant garden, was simply hot, dry dust. I had nothing left to give. As a last desperate attempt to grow something in my wasteland, I turned to gratitude
… I decided to paint my gratitude. One hundred hearts for one hundred women who touched my life …
I began to notice the people around me in a new way - their struggles and joys and quirks and delights endeared them to me. I felt new life in my soul. My list filled and overflowed - one hundred became too small to contain my gratitude!”
Jenny Marie’s also sells gratitude action packs, greeting cards, and DIY ornaments. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
Then one day as she was driving home from the beach, she found a new creative project to be grateful for.
“I was talking with my husband, and I was like I’ve got to do a gelati food truck,” said Jenny.
So this past winter she began renovating an old 76 Prowler to transform it into both a dessert truck and a functional art installation.
But financing was an issue.
“Her name is Gloria and she is a homebody big time,” said Jenny, laughing. “Her renovation was made possible by incredibly generous Kickstarter donors. It was a community effort to bring her to life. I had no idea how I was going to make it happen. But some incredibly generous people just showed up in an enormous way and that made it possible.
Jenny documented the transformation process on Jenny Marie’s instagram.
“It’s definitely the largest scale creative project I’ve ever done and to be able to step inside of it and interact with people through it is magical,” said Jenny.
“I wanted to create a place where people could spend time together and create memories. This is really about creating an excuse for people to come together and strengthen relationships and friendships.”
Customers seemed to enjoy coming to grab a bite for lunch and following it up with a sweet treat. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
Jenny said the community has been loving her frozen treats.
“The response has been wonderful. We have so many repeat customers. This location is so fantastic. It’s just a great place to hang out. I love it,” said Jenny.
Sitting at the table with Jenny and Rita eating gelati and feeling happy as Larry I have to agree.
The food pod has certainly transformed over the past year. What was once a bare lot in downtown The Dalles has now become a choice place to hang out by a fire pit, play corn hole, and relax while eating homemade BBQ and gelati.
This mother daughter pair is just too cure for words. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
I asked Rita if she plans to take over the business one day.
“Maybe,” she said.
“You’ll have to change the name to Rita Grace!” laughed Jenny.
But seeing as Rita is just ten years old, Jenny Marie’s will probably remain Jenny Marie’s for a while.
Finally I asked Jenny what her hours are.
“Our summer hours are one p.m. to eight p.m. Tuesday through Saturday,” said Jenny.
I thanked Jenny and RIta for chatting with me and let her know, most assuredly, that I will be back for more Gelati, after all, there are a lot more flavors to try out!
Learn more about Jenny Marie by visiting their website or following them on instagram.
