Half Pint Kitchen

5/18/13

Saturday, May 18, 2013

We sincerely apologize. My husband and I had an emergency this morning, so Half Pint Kitchen will not open at the Stockton Market until around noon. We are sorry for any inconvenience.

When we get to the market, our flavors will be:

Salted Caramel Ice Cream

Dark Chocolate Sorbet

Arnold Palmer Ice

Chamomile Ice Cream

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Rojo's Roastery Espresso Ice Cream

Madagascar Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Our Story

Half Pint Kitchen Artisanal Ice Cream Shop began, oddly enough, after a car accident in 2008 left chef Robin Damstra (now, Robin Salant) with severe daily chronic pain.

After a few years of working desk jobs that left her pain worsening, and her happiness dwindling, Robin began to remember her pre-college fantasies of opening up an ice cream shop. Having worked at several ice creameries since she was thirteen, and because she had spent the last decade learning the culinary arts and devoting herself to ethical eating, Robin knew enough about the wonderful food sources of the Stockton/Delaware Valley area, and the ice cream business, for her fantasies to form into reality.

Robin's fiance (now husband) Jim Salant, a memoir, fiction, and food writer, was understandably concerned about Robin's pain, but after seeing how happy Robin felt about delving into her own business, Jim soon became fully supportive, and joined Robin as partner in the soon to be formed Half Pint Kitchen.

Jim worked on constructing their kitchen, and Robin began developing recipes; and within a few months, they opened up a stand in the Stockton Market, selling pints of their ice cream flavors. Much to Robin and Jim's disbelief and exhilaration, they sold out on their very first weekend.

That weekend, they sold Salted Caramel and Dark Chocolate Sorbet; these flavors haven't left the menu since Half Pint Kitchen's opening.

Half Pint Kitchen, and the Stockton Market itself, has changed dramatically since it's opening. Today, the market is filled with talented vendors and beautiful decor; and Half Pint Kitchen has transformed from a folding table and a freezer of pint containers, to a full-service ice cream shop, with a display case of each weekend's flavors, handmade toppings like hot fudge and wet walnuts, super-rich milkshakes, hand-rolled waffle cones, and ice cream floats with natural sodas, among other treats.

Remembering back to the beginnings of Half Pint Kitchen, and the three-week break Robin and Jim took right after opening to get married and honeymoon – and then standing in their shop today, seeing how far her dream has come, Robin still feels like it's all a fantasy.

Half Pint Kitchen is open every weekend at the Stockton Market; still serving Salted Caramel and Dark Chocolate Sorbet, and many other flavors with locally sourced ingredients. That is no fantasy. And Robin and Jim will see you there.