There’s nothing like a delicious ice cream treat to bring a smile to your face. Stephen Sung of Liberty Township knows the power of the creamy dessert. Last year, he traded in his career as a chemical engineer to launch Sung’s Treats, his own line of fresh, handmade, custom ice cream.
“I'm an engineer by training,” says Sung. “I got my PhD in chemical engineering, and I’ve been in R&D and operations—it’s a lot of problem-solving, and people are never happy. It was the kind of job where it’s never fast enough, never good enough. It was neat to make a big life change.”
This pivotal moment came to Sung in a moment of reflection in the wake of deep loss.
“Both of my parents passed away within 18 months of each other,” he shares. “It made me reflect a little bit about what I wanted to do. I realized that life is short. So, I wanted to try something new and different. I know that every time I go get ice cream, it is always fun. It is always exciting. It’s a good change to deal with people on the happier end of the spectrum.”
Sung prepares his small-batch ice creams in a commissary kitchen with the precision of an engineer and the creativity of a kid. He uses natural ingredients to craft one-of-a-kind flavors. Sung’s Treats are bringing smiles to his customers not only because they are delicious, but also because they are healthier. The secret ingredient in his approach is his desire to make the custom orders just right for his customers, even anticipating allergy and food sensitivity issues.
“Flavor is important,” says Sung. “Getting really good, fresh ingredients is key. I spend a lot of time trying to source better and healthier ingredients. You can see the list of ingredients on the package—they are things you can actually pronounce.”
With the support of his wife and four children, Sung’s leap of faith into a new career has been life-changing. Now, he can’t stop smiling.
“I don't feel stressed about work anymore. When I’m talking with people, especially the little kids, when they taste my ice cream, I like to see how it brings a big smile to their face. It’s very fulfilling.”
Sung’s Treats are available locally at Liberty Farm Market and Oakley Kitchen, and his made-to-order custom flavors can be ordered online at SungsTreats.com.
Thanks to Fischer Homes and James Allen for allowing us to use the beautiful kitchen in a Towns of Wetherington townhome for this photo shoot. FischerHomes.com