Last Days of Ice Cream

As summer fades from memory and Halloween decorations can be found on more and more stoops, one hot weather staple stubbornly remains: Ice cream vendors can still be found in Prospect Park.

Earlier this week, street cart vendor Juan was set up outside the 11th Street playground (not inside, mind you).

How many flavors do you have?
Right now, I have eight flavors. Butter pecan, strawberry, cookies and cream, pistachio, mango-cherry, pineapple-lime, lime, coconut.

What’s the most popular flavor?
Cookies and cream. Everybody likes it.

How about you? What’s your favorite?
I like them all. Pistachio.

Is it tempting to have all this ice cream around? Do you eat too much ice cream?
One ice cream a day is okay. Even for the kids, it’s okay.

How did you get into this line of work?
Because I couldn’t get another job.

What do you do when it’s too cold to sell ice cream?
Sometimes I work in a restaurant, in a deli, grocery, supermarket…

What do you do when you work in restaurants?
I work in the kitchen. Cut vegetables, wash the plates…

Do you enjoy cooking?
Really? No. I don’t like restaurants because I like to work outside. I like the freedom.

What would your ideal job be?
Working with the people. Even in the store, I like to work with the people. So I can talk to people. I like to be social.