With summertime in full swing, what better way to beat the heat than a few scoops of delicious, artisanal ice cream handcrafted from locally sourced ingredients and a lot of love?
If you’re craving the sweet taste of European culinary perfection, step into a world where tradition meets innovation and traditional European classics are given a modern twist at Praguery, a Vancouver staple since 2016.
As the namesake implies, the story of Praguery begins in - you guessed it - the streets of one of Europe’s most beautiful and iconic cities: Prague. Founder Jaroslav Mestka cites the happy faces of the crowds of tourists that flock to the Czech capital every year as they sampled some of the city’s delectable street food.
Driven by his passion to continue putting smiles on faces and to put European cuisine on the map, Mestka embarked on a journey that would bring the flavours of Prague to Vancouver.
“I wanted to introduce something new and delicious to Vancouver,” Mestka explains. “It started back in 2016 when I went to visit my parents in Prague, and I took the wrong street and ended up in the bakery who were the first ones to start putting the ice cream into chimney cakes.”
Sweet yet humble beginnings
Praguery began - as with many of the modern era's hippest and hottest food trends - as a simple food truck. Thanks to a perfect blend of passion, hard work, and delicious offerings, the brand has expanded to four different locations across the Lower Mainland in Coquitlam, Vancouver, Richmond, and Squamish.
Its commitment to quality and craftsmanship is at the heart of Praguery's success, and Mestka ensures that only the finest ingredients are used, sourcing locally whenever possible.
"We are always trying to work with the best ingredients (pistachios from Sicily, Belgian Callebaut chocolate)," Mestka describes. "Some items we need to import from Italy as we don't want to have any preservatives. That's the reason why we make our topping from scratch."
This dedication to excellence is evident in every menu item, including the signature chimney cakes and cones, kneaded daily and baked to perfection using traditional methods honed by generations of village babičkas.
Local love through international flavours
Supporting local suppliers and artisans is a core value that Mestka cares about deeply. Toppings and fillings are meticulously prepared in-house, free from preservatives and additives. One simply has to taste Praguery’s famous strawberry sauce, bursting with the flavour of freshly picked B.C. strawberries. And for those who prefer their berries blue, Mestka has great news!
“Our Mr. Berry is a big summer hit, we made the sauce from scratch using local berries from Abbotsford, and we will have a new blueberry special coming soon,” he says.
Its menu has flavour options for even the most discerning palette, including Pistachio, accompanied by house-made pistachio coulis, or tropical Mango topped with freshly made mango coulis and toasted coconut.
If you’re looking to share the sweetness, Praguery also offers catering services for those interested in booking the ice cream/dessert truck for their special events.
Heading out to Lafarge Lake this summer? Keep your eyes peeled for Praguery’s all-new dessert truck!
Check out their diverse and delicious menu at praguery.com.
