“One thing about firemen—we are highly sarcastic,” he said.
Smith’s love for making ice cream came during a short stint working in a local ice cream shop. He eventually found the location for his own shop off Arapaho Road in the fire district where he worked.
Tongue in Cheek offers 24 flavors ranging from traditional, such as chocolate and vanilla, to unique, such as Banana Cream Pie and Caramel Crack. The ice cream is made in-house, and the flavors, which change seasonally, are based on Smith’s own ideas as well as customer suggestions. During Hatch pepper season, Tongue in Cheek adds a Hatch pepper butter pecan flavor to the menu.
“[I like] getting creative with flavors, like spicy flavors,” he said. “It’s kind of weird for a lot of people, incorporating savory to ice cream.”
The business was uniquely equipped to handle the coronavirus pandemic when it hit in March. The shop had been offering delivery since January, but the service really took off when people started spending more time at home, Smith said. Tongue in Cheek also has a drive-thru window that makes it easy for customers to get fresh ice cream from the safety of their cars.
Since opening, Smith said Tongue in Cheek has seen an overwhelming amount of support. In turn, Smith said he makes an effort to give back to the community.
“We make a point to get very involved in our schools and donate as much as we can to them,” he said.
Tongue in Cheek Ice Cream
526 W. Arapaho Road, Richardson
972-685-5070
www.tongueincheekicecream.com
Hours: Mon.-Thu. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun. noon-9 p.m.
