Blu Top Ice Cream

Blu Top Ice Cream is a small-batch ice cream company based in South London serving all-natural ice cream sandwiches and frozen patisserie. Their classic American super-premium ice cream recipe uses no stabilizers or emulsifiers – just natural ingredients you’d find in your grandma’s pantry. Read our interview with Richard Makin, Founder of Blu Top Ice Cream, below.
Describe your relationship with food in three words.
Playful, indulgent, responsible.
If you weren’t a street food trader what would you be doing? Tell us about your journey.

I’d be a lot thinner, that’s for sure! I studied and worked in linguistics for a long time and then moved onto higher education research management, right before I started Blu Top. I can’t imagine what I’d be doing now if things had been different – starting my business was such a logical and natural progression and it’s exactly where I want to be.
What would be your last supper or your last meal on earth be if you could choose?
That’s a really tough one! Probably all you can eat fish tacos? Or like a mountain of Bahn Mi?
Who would you love to cook for (past or present)?
I’d love to feed my late grandma Sadie. She was a real lover of food, especially anything a little bit naughty, so I’d love to see her reaction to a whopping ice cream sandwich!
What is your foodie guilty pleasure?
Honestly, I LOVE a maxibon. 
What’s been the hardest thing so far?
The hardest thing about Blu Top so far has been knowing which direction I should take the business. There’s a lot of temptation to grow and lose focus on the quality of the product, but I’m learning to trust my instincts.
What’s been the highlight so far?
Serving ice cream with my mum at this year’s Alchemy Festival. She knew how busy I’d be so she planned a visit and really got stuck in! She’s such a hard worker but we also have the most fun ever.
What advice would you give to people who are thinking of starting their own street food business?
Do what you love, because things are going to be 100x harder than you can imagine. If I didn’t love ice cream so much I’d have walked after year 1!
Follow Blu Top Ice Cream on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Find Blu Top Ice Cream at Street Eats on Friday 28th July 2017. Register for your free ticket here.
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