The Ice Cream Truck Kingpins Of Southern California

Is there anything better than hearing the sound of an ice cream truck approaching? Today we’re bringing you two stories of ice cream trucks, past and present. First, Sporkful managing producer Emma Morgenstern tells the tale of her great-uncles, who owned a fleet of trucks starting in the 1940s — complete with sibling rivalries, California dreaming, and the exact right speed to drive a truck to maximize profits. Then, Dan hangs out with Caner Halis, a soft-serve truck driver and local celebrity in Dan’s neck of the woods. Caner breaks down the intricacies of the business, and Dan tries to convince Caner to try vanilla soft-serve with olive oil and sea salt.

If you live in the area and want to book Caner for your next party, text him at (631) 947-5518 or find him on Instagram @halisicecream.

The Sporkful production team includes Dan Pashman, Emma Morgenstern, Andres O'Hara, Kameel Stanley, and Jared O'Connell.

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