Ice Cream as an Art Form

In an issue of Gastronomica, there’s an article on whether food can be considered art. I wholeheartedly agree with this notion, but I understand if others do not. After all, food, for all intents and purposes, is sustenance for our bodies. It’s fuel – plain and simple. But I do believe that food is also pleasure – and when done well can be just as or more affecting than art. I don’t know if I’ve ever been moved to tears by food – but there have been bites that have been life-changing. Sometimes it has been a “perfect” bite – the ultimate blend of the senses, others have been the realization and product of superior technique and pure ingredients. And sometimes, it’s just damned good. I don’t need to explain that food is beautiful – I mean, go check out any issue of Bon Appetit or back issue of Gourmet or even food blogs out there – you will see pictures and food styled and crafted so well, it is hard to fathom that it actually exists in real life and is edible!!

Anyway, I went into this long introductory story to set up another story of a conversation I had with the Mothership. I was lamenting the lack of freezer space due to some overzealous ice cream making and she said, “well, why don’t you just stop making ice cream?”

I froze (not literally, hahaha). I was also shocked and hurt. The Mothership is an artist, if anyone were to understand my need to create, invent, and experiment with desserts of the frozen variety – it would be her! I coolly asked her, “well then, you should stop painting. Goodness knows you have enough artwork around the house? Why do you need more? Why do you do it?”

“Ice cream is MY art. It may be unconventional, but it’s what I do to express myself and be creative.”