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Downtown Las Vegas' Paradise City Creamery offers unique twists on a summer favorite

Posted at 6:44 AM, Aug 18, 2020
and last updated 2020-08-19 07:53:05-04

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Paradise City Creamery is not your Grandma's ice cream.

"As a former stripper and burlesque dancer, I really love flashy. Give me neon lights, give me sparkle," said owner Valerie Stunning.

These are not your Grandma's ice cream flavors either starting with a flavor called "XXXpense it."

"That is a chili vanilla bean with a mango coulis and a little tajin on top to balance it out," she said. "And for people who are adventurous and want extra spice, they can get the dehydrated chili that comes with it."

Everything at Paradise City Creamery is unique and a little bougie and that's very much on purpose.

"The cones are gold. The cherries are gold and they're just these beautiful presentations."

Valerie Stunning loves a beautiful presentation. As her burlesque days were winding down, Stunning found herself filling her time with something new - making plant-based ice cream.

"I started doing it as a hobby and bringing it to friend's dinner parties and people were like, 'you should charge money for this. This is very good. And I'm like, okay well..."

Stunning launched Paradise City Creamery last May. Her original plan was to have her business event-based - popping up at conventions, weddings and even block parties. The pandemic forced her to pivot.

"We were able to team up with Garagiste, which is an amazing wine bar, and they have a great little spot out front so once all the restrictions started easing up, we could bring our cart out and really connect to the neighborhood," she said.

And while Stunning's ice cream is made specifically for people who are gluten and dairy intolerant, her company is all about tolerance - in particular for LGBTQ and people of color. Her commitment is shown through the people she hires, the businesses she partners with and the organizations she donates to.

"A lot of the communities that make Vegas amazing could be celebrated more. And that's overall our goal. Celebrate indulgence. Celebrate yourself. Feel yourself. And be the pleasure you wish to see in the world," she said.

To find Paradise City Creamery, follow them on social media or check their website.