Clementine’s Ice Cream Founder Tamara Keefe On Gooey Butter Cake & Big Dreams

Today’s guest is Tamara Keefe, founder and CEO of Clementine’s Ice Cream, the St. Louis–based creamery known for its inventive flavors, ice cream parlors, and devoted following. Tamara started Clementine’s after walking away from a successful corporate career, and has since grown the company from one tiny neighborhood ice cream parlor into a nationally recognized brand. Tamara joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about the childhood ice cream tradition that changed her life, why she decided to bet on herself, and how she built Clementine’s from the ground up—first by selling to restaurants, delivering pints around St. Louis, and eventually opening her first parlor. She shares what makes Clementine’s special, from its “organoleptic” parlor experience to its kosher-certified signature line, boozy ice creams, and dairy-free offerings. They also dive into Clementine’s famous Gooey Butter Cake ice cream, Tamara’s Route 66–inspired summer flavors, and why vanilla is the true test of a great ice cream maker. Plus, Tamara talks about Cone Con, her upcoming wedding, and why ice cream might just be the happiest food there is. Thank you to Fisher & Paykel & Nonino for supporting our show. Click here to pre-order The Game Changers issue of Cherry Bombe magazine. Sign up for our free Radio Cherry Bombe newsletters at cherrybombe.substack.com More on Tamara: Instagram, Clementine's Ice Cream More on Kerry: Instagram, “So You Want To Open A Restaurant” Substack series