Bites Nearby: Meet the Owner of Rita's Italian Ice

If you grew up in the area, you know all too well the allure of the red and green sign when the weather gets warmer. Rita's Italian Ice is a part of all of our childhoods.

I recently took my cousin's kids to a mom and pop Italian ice stand. After they devoured their treats I asked them how they liked it and almost in unison they replied, "it's not as good as Rita's..."

Jen Scalora-Cheeseman is a local, born and raised, who made some extra cash working at during the summer while in high school. In fact, she went on to work every single position at Rita's and spent time working in the corporate offices.

What started as a summer job has turned into an entrepreneurial endeavor. This small business owner is now calling all the shots and making sure that every item that leaves her stand is just as good as everyone remembers. Her energy, drive and laughter are all contagious. Read below to find out more. 

Name: Jen Scalora-Cheeseman

Age: 29

Hometown: Wallingford, Pa

Home now: Media, Pa

Favorite Thing about the Community: The people, our guests are great.

Do you do any community work? Yes, we are involved with the schools and participate in fundraising events. For instance, we did an event called Media Elementary night where a fixed percentage of sales went directly to the school. It's our way to give back to the community. The teachers from the school actually came behind the window and were scooping Italian ice for the kids and they loved it. It was cute to hear the kids saying, "Did you know Mrs. So and So works at Rita's too?" My goal was to get involved with all the elementary schools which we did and we've also worked with the junior highs and high schools.

Years in the Industry: 10 years

Earliest Cooking Memory: My parents owned a restaurant when I was little. It was pizza in the front and a sit down restaurant in the back, I guess I got my entrepreneurial spirit from them. I grew up in an Italian household. I cooked with my dad, I remember he would make homemade pasta and there would be all this fresh pasta drying on racks all over the place.

First Kitchen Job: When I was 15 I was a "scooper" at Rita's. Now they are called "treat team members." 

What brought you to the industry? I loved water ice and I needed a summer job. Rita's was my high school and college job. After college, I had been working PR for QVC in the jewelry and beauty departments and then got the opportunity to be a Rita's franchise manager for the area. It was an operations position and I did that for a few years. I worked at Rita's for 10 summers, I know all the ins and out of the business.

Advice for Home Cooks: Come to Rita's for dessert. You can't make water ice at home. We're really the only place for authentic Italian ice. The consistency is hard to obtain. We make our Italian ice fresh everyday. We're not allowed to sell anything that is older than 36 hours.  

Favorite Thing to Cook: I make a mean pasta dish with porcini mushrooms, goat cheese, peas and tomato sauce.

Favorite Menu Item: I'm traditional, I love lemon ice. But our cantaloupe, Bubbalicious and Tastykake flavors are also very good.

Healthiest Menu Item: We have a sugar-free water ice and a fat-free soft serve. We have a "slenderita" that combines these items. Most of our items are not that high in calories.

Favorite Local Restaurant: Limoncello in West Chester

Favorite Restaurant in the World: Sinatra's at the Wynn in Las Vegas

Guilty Pleasure (food or drink): Tacos, I can eat them everyday. Skinny Girl margaritas.

Last Meal on Earth: Tacos, margaritas, lemon water ice.

Cook for Any Celebrities? Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz from NBC 10

Favorite Food Shows: Top Chef

Biggest Kitchen Disaster: Adding too much mix, using incorrect amounts of ingredients, machine getting overheated, batches of water ice over-freezing...