Q&A with owner of Beck’s Frozen Desserts of Grace

The News-Examiner recently sat down with Becky Christensen, the owner of Beck’s Frozen Desserts food truck/catering business in Grace. Here are her answers to our questions.

News-Examiner: How did Beck’s Frozen Desserts come to life?

Christensen: I had just sold my waffle business Wafflicious that I ran for 8 years and thought I wanted to take a break from the food business. But I found I need to have a creative outlet and the best way I express creativity is through food. Mainly desserts. We live in a small area and I just wanted to make a fun summer treat or ice cream that I could make year round for people.

NE: What have been your biggest challenges successfully running two food truck businesses?

Christensen: Time. Time is my enemy. I have four children and two grandchildren and I’m so busy with all of them. I would love to put my energy into a food truck full-time but I won’t sacrifice my family to do it. They are the most important.

NE: How do you decide on your menu?

Christensen: I get a lot of inspiration from traveling and trying unique ice cream stores. I love grocery stores and specialty stores to find ingredients that might be good in an ice cream. I love to read about flavor combinations and what flavors pair well with each other. But people are also creatures of habit and love the basics.

NE: What are your best-selling flavors?

Christensen: My top flavors so far are the strawberry lemon poppyseed, the fruity cheesecake ice creams and the churro caramel pretzel.

NE: What sets your products apart from others?

Christensen: I’m not sure what might set me apart. I think simply having a high quality product might set me apart. I make small batches to ensure I have control over the flavors.

NE: Where and when did you find your passion for food creations?

Christensen: I have always had a sweet tooth. My favorite thing to do when I travel is to find THE best dessert places. In Japan, I found that red bean paste is actually really good in a dessert. I have to taste chocolate everywhere I go just to see who has the best chocolate. Belgian chocolate and Icelandic chocolate are among my favorites so far.

NE: How much do ingredients matter?

Christensen: When I started making ice cream I knew I didn’t want a basic ice cream. I knew I wanted a premium ice cream that is creamy and light. I want my ingredients to be as natural as possible. I get some of my flavors and coloring from a business that makes their products with natural ingredients. I use high quality chocolates and ingredients. I also make most of my add ins from scratch. I want your ice cream to taste amazing. But I also know I need to learn so much more about making ice cream. It’s always a work in progress.

Be sure to try Beck’s Frozen Desserts at local events or contact her directly at Beckschri11@me.com.