Ice cream man brings a piece of Thailand to Las Vegas

Ted Sumi created a recipe in his kitchen that is free of preservatives and stabilizers, developing “the purest form of ice cream,” he says. Sumi comes up with all of the flavors himself, such as potato chip, coffee ’n donuts, and avocado.

Tell us how you discovered rolled ice cream.

I’ve always been a big fan of ice cream. It’s my favorite dessert. When I had children, I started paying attention to the ingredients and realized that ice cream is full of preservatives, stabilizers, gums and emulsifiers. I wanted ice cream the way it was meant to be. So I went on a journey to find out how I could make the purest form of ice cream, and I found it when I was visiting Thailand. I wanted to share it with the Las Vegas community.

What prompted you to launch your business here?

Las Vegas is my hometown and in my opinion, it’s the greatest city in the world. I couldn’t think of a better city to do business in. Ice cream plus the desert equals happiness.

How did you develop your menu and house creations?

It all started with me in my kitchen, experimenting with all of the ways I could replicate the way rolled ice cream is made in Thailand, but using all natural ingredients. My main goal was to element the use of eggs, which is typically the way rolled ice cream is made. It took me a year and a half of trial and error until I finally found the perfect recipe for our house cream. From there, the fun began by adding all types fresh fruits, cakes, cookies and anything we could dream up.

What is your favorite creation?

My personal favorite has to be coffee and Almond Roca. It is made with real coffee and gives me the caffeine kick.

Do you plan to offer seasonal flavors for the holidays?

Rolled Ice Cream always offers seasonal flavors such as our fall flavor, pumpkin pie. December’s flavor of the month is a secret.

What is your business philosophy?

To work hard, be honest, support and give back.

Are there plans to expand locally, regionally or nationally?

We are looking forward to opening two more stores in the valley and expanding nationally with a franchise some time next year.

What is the best part about doing business in Las Vegas?

The people. From MMA fighters and Golden Knights players to our neighborhood families, the Las Vegas community is so diverse and beautiful.

What challenges or obstacles do you face as a small-business owner? 

It is a day-to-day adventure, one that I wake up every morning ready to take on. You have to stay positive and motivated through every obstacle as a business owner.