NYC-based Van Leeuwen brings international ingredients to the Houston ice cream scene

Ben Van Leeuwen, CEO of New York City-based ice cream company Van Leeuwen, takes a lot of pride in his sourcing. He thinks items made with care always taste better.

Pistachios from Sicily, cacao from Ecuador, strawberries from Oregon, hazelnuts from Italy are some of the international ingredients mixed into Van Leeuwen’s ice cream. He obsesses over ice cream texture and making the perfect vegan ice cream, using unusual nondairy ingredients like fermented rice alongside the usual suspects like…