Pictured are Nick and Katie Krasa of Krasa’s Kove in Findley Lake. The Krasas recently won a white ribbon awarded at the annual North American Ice Cream Association Ice Cream Convention in Orlando, Fla. Submitted photo

FINDLEY LAKE — Krasa’s Kove officially has an award-winning flavor from the North American Ice Cream Association Ice Cream Convention.

During the 2021 convention in Orlando, Fla., owners of Krasa’s Kove submitted their flavor, Holy Chocolate, for the ice cream flavor and quality competition. Katie and Nick Krasa have been in business in Findley Lake since 2015 and were proud to bring home the white ribbon (third place) for their flavor.

Each year, various ice cream shops and businesses submit their flavors for the competition, which is much more than a taste test. The 2021 judging was done under the supervision of Sr. Sam Alcaine of Cornell University. The samples were collected and tested in various ways involving microbial, structural and sensory testing. The ice cream samples are then scored on elements such as flavor, body, texture and color.

“This is our second year that we’ve belonged to the association,” Katie Krasa said. “Once a year, they have a convention and you can submit for different categories and it’s tested through Cornell University. It’s a pretty tough process to get through. It was an incredible experience to be in a room with some of the top ice cream manufacturers and producers in the country. Just sitting in that room and then hearing our name get announced.”

Krasa said the tests are done anonymously, with each sample being coded and judged blind. She said she and her husband are thrilled with the award and have made it their goal to bring home a blue ribbon in the near future.

“That’s our ultimate goal,” she said. “Next year, the conference is actually in Fort Worth, Texas, and we want to submit samples for all the categories to try to get our blue ribbon status.”

Krasa’s Kove is open from April through October. The Krasa’s are proud to offer homemade ice cream using many local products and through partnerships with local farms at farmers markets when possible. The location of Krasa’s Kove has been an ice cream shop for almost 65 years, Krasa added.

“My husband Nick makes the ice cream — he taught himself how to do this process,” she said. “We incorporate our customers’ input and suggestions when they’re talking about new flavors or ideas. We have over 200 ice cream flavors.”

Krasa’s Kove is located at 2543 Sunnyside Road in Findley Lake. For more information, visit krasaskove.com.

The North American Ice Cream Association is a trade organization that supports its members in the retail ice cream and frozen dessert business through training, support and its annual ice cream convention in November each year. Since 1933, the North American Ice Cream Association has helped thousands of ice cream and frozen dessert entrepreneurs.