Dairy-Free Deliciousness
It all started with a European vacation. Andrea Seppinni was traveling with her husband, Kevin, in Vienna to celebrate their 30th anniversary. During an evening stroll, they came across a crowd of people waiting in line for ice cream — dairy-free ice cream.
“We got in line, and I turned to my husband and said, “I can do this. I know how to do this,’” she says.
Thus the dream for opening a dairy-free ice cream shop of her own was born.
When she returned from vacation, Seppinni went to work creating a frozen dessert that checked all the boxes: creamy, smooth, all natural, and plant based. She also chose to go with a gelato instead of an ice cream. Traditional gelato has a higher percentage of milk, making it softer and smoother than ice cream, which has more cream. After testing numerous plant-based milks, she finally settled on cashew milk as a base as it offered the right texture and a neutral flavor.
“I came home and tried formulations. I wanted something that didn’t require additives or fillers,” she says. “I was able to get the right consistency. I didn’t have to add anything to make it creamy.”
Armed with the right product, Seppinni launched Conscious Creamery in 2016. At first, she sold her dairy-free delights at pop-up events and festivals. She opened a storefront in April 2021 in Sacramento’s Oak Park neighborhood.
Great-Tasting Vegan?
The Seppinnis have been vegan for nearly 15 years. She had always been unimpressed with most vegan products, especially frozen desserts. Those that mimicked ice cream often were filled with artificial ingredients and fillers and lacked the proper texture and consistency.
While her gelato is defined by its lack of animal products, her driving force always was to make something that tasted great. Yes, it appeals to vegans, but it also appeals to non-vegans and those with dairy intolerance. Seppinni says many of her customers actually seek her out, looking to indulge without the ill effects that often accompany frozen milk-based treats. That’s why she typically refers to her products as dairy-free rather than vegan.
“My goal was to just make something delicious. I want everyone to enjoy it, not just vegans. People who like good food,” she says.
A classically trained chef, Seppinni credits her background with giving her the know-how to appeal to different palates. She knows which flavors work together and which don’t, and she knows that consistency plays a huge role in a food’s palatability.
“I know what people want, even people who aren’t vegan,” she says. “I know what they’re looking for when it comes to taste and texture.”
Conscious Creamery offers as many as 18 different flavors at any given time, ranging from the traditional (rocky road and cookie dough) to the gourmet (such as matcha strawberry ripple and toasted sesame ginger). The gelateria also offers gelato cakes, bars, tacos, and cookie sandwiches. Over the years, Seppinni estimates she’s made more than 300 flavors. Many of her ingredients are seasonal and sourced from local farms, and Seppinni often can be spotted at area farmers’ markets browsing the stands of just-harvested produce.
“We’re so lucky in the Sacramento area to have access to such a bounty of fruits and nuts,” she says.
Not only is Conscious Creamery completely vegan, it’s also gluten-free. Add-ins, such as cookies and brownies, all are made on site with gluten-free ingredients. Even the popular cookies-and-cream flavor is made in house by hand — creamy filling and all.
“If we can’t make it gluten-free, we don’t make it,” she says.
Although her gelatos are made from whole foods and are free from gluten, animal products, and artificial ingredients (plus naturally lower in sugar), Seppinni stresses that they are still an indulgent treat.
“We are a dessert. We don’t claim to be a health food,” she says.
Giving Back to Oak Park
Creamery is reminiscent of a European-style gelateria, where customers order their desserts to go and then sit on outdoor tables or stroll the sidewalks. This is one of the reasons why Seppinni chose the Broadway corridor in Oak Park, which is lined with shops and galleries, as the location for her store. She also wanted to support the neighborhood and add to the community vibe.
“We wanted to be surrounded by a neighborhood and draw our employees from that neighborhood when possible. Five of our seven gelateria employees live in Oak Park, within walking distance, and the other two are within biking distance,” Seppinni says.
Conscious Creamery also hosts events aimed at bringing people together, including weekly open mic nights and pop-ups featuring vegan food vendors.
“We want to give other people opportunities the same way we were given opportunities,” she adds.
Conscious Creamery
Consciouscreamery.com
