Ice cream initiative grows out of COVID-19 isolation

September 16, 2020

Staying physically active and maintaining healthy habits have been challenging for most seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unable to go for walks in malls and other public spaces or socialize with friends, many of them have had to devise new ways to cope during this stressful period.

Prior to COVID, Scarborough resident Ian Thomasos and a group of longstanding close male friends who refer to themselves as ‘The ROMEOs’ (Retired Old Men Eating Out), dined out monthly at a local restaurant.

Turning 87 on August 17, he was in a rut in the last few months until his daughter, Charonne Thomasos, suggested he make ice cream to keep busy.

After graduating with an undergraduate degree in Food Technology from the University of Guelph and a Master’s in Dairy Science from the University of Alberta, Thomasos – who first came to Canada in 1956 to further his studies – returned to Trinidad & Tobago and worked as a chemist at Flavorite Foods Inc. which makes the popular Flavorite ice cream.

“He has a long history of making ice cream and he does it for me every week, so he was all in when I threw out the idea,” she said. “He wasn’t looking to start a business or seeking any type of compensation. All he wanted was to do something that would keep him active and enable him to give back to the community.”

Branded ‘Sweet Fuh So’, the homemade ice cream flavours include mango, coconut, soursop, chocolate, vanilla and rum & raisin.

“Those are the five that we are doing right now, but he is always open to trying other things,” said his daughter. “We have had requests for cotton candy and other unique flavours.”

The business was launched on September 1.

“On the first day, we had 35 orders which was way more than we were expecting,” the youngest of his three children, who is responsible for taking orders, packaging and deliveries, pointed out.

A 12-ounce tub of ice cream costs $5.

Orders can be made via Instagram @sweetfuhsoicecream or by email at sweetfuhsoicream@gmail.com.

Sweet Fuh So ice cream is a big hit with consumers

A portion of the proceeds accrued from the ice cream sales will go to Tropicana Community Services Organization (TCSO) launched in 1980 as a non-profit agency to serve disadvantaged youths and their families.

“We were thinking about Diabetes Canada because my father has diabetes, but we gave to them regularly in terms of their clothing drive,” she said. “With everything that’s going on, we thought Tropicana should be the beneficiary because of the work it does. Also, the organization is across the street from my dad’s residence and it has done a lot over the years for immigrants like my parents.”

Robert Brown, who died 15 years ago, started TCSO which was United Way’s first Black member agency in 1984. Through its myriad diverse programs, the agency aims to increase the rate of self-employment for youths, improve access to culturally-appropriate counseling services and reduce the school drop-out rate among Black students.

On Thomasos’ return to Canada in 1988, he worked with Warner-Lambert Co. and was the creator of popular chewing gum products Dentyne Ice and Trident Cherry.