LA's Coolhaus Debuts Pride-Themed Ice Cream Sandwich

Every year, Coolhaus dreams up a Pride-inspired frozen confection to coincide with the month-long celebration of diversity, and it is so much more than a well-timed marketing initiative. It's a symbol of the personal commitment the company's founders have to support women and LGBTQ-owned businesses. In 2020, the brand launched the dairy-free EnjoyMINT flavor during Pride Month for all to enjoy. In an email sent to Tasting Table, the company announced this year's rainbow-themed novelty, the Love Out Loud Sammie, a colorful and vibrantly-flavored ice cream sandwich. 

It features two confetti sprinkle cookies that have been stuffed with strawberry swirl cheesecake ice cream the wrapper is adorned with hand-drawn illustrations highlighting critical moments in the fight for LGBTQ rights like the Stonewall Riots. Additionally, the flowers on the wrapper are different colors to represent inclusivity for all identities. The ice cream creation costs $4.95 and is available nationwide via DoorDash from May 29 through July.

A focused initiative

Coolhaus was founded in 2009 by Natasha Case, an architect passionate about ice cream, and her partner, Freya Estreller, and it was originally planned as a side hustle. Frustrated by a lack of products created by and for women and members of the LGBTQ community, they bought a beat-up van off Craigslist and had it towed 200 miles to the Coachella Music Festival near Palm Springs, California. Their architecture-inspired ice cream novelties were so popular, Case and Estreller ultimately quit their day jobs to focus their energy on building the business, while always remembering to give back to the community.

Case and Estreller have never veered from their commitment to supporting the LGBTQ community: "We have a different background than most people, and we know it," Case said. "We are not shying away from that and, in fact, we are leaning into it. We've made those pillars of the business over the years as opposed to just a starting place." As part of its 2023 commitment to inclusion and diversity, Coolhaus will also donate $25,000 to GLAAD, the international advocacy organization for the LGBTQ community.