Speakers & Guests
Tyler Malek
Tyler Malek has worked as head ice cream maker for Salt & Straw Ice Cream in Portland, OR since the company’s inception in 2011. He has been instrumental in creating the chef driven ice cream movement by using ice cream to highlight local ingredients and products. He successfully experiments with a wide variety of top chefs, producers, farmers and artisans to create fun, unexpected and delicious ice cream flavors, to the delight of the inner child in us all.
His memorable flavors have truly resonated with fans across the country. They have received editor’s pick by Food & Wine Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, Martha Stewart, O Magazine, Saveur, GQ and Portland Monthly. They have also been featured in Time Magazine, The Cooking Channel’s “Unique Sweets,” ABC’s “The Chew” and the Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods: Portland.” Food Network also named Salt & Straw’s Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper flavor the second best ice cream in the country on “Food Network’s Top 5 Ice Creams in America” program.
Since opening in early 2011 Malek and his cousin, founder and owner Kim Malek, have taken their ice cream from a cart to seven brick and mortar locations. In that time he has created more than 230 ice creams, each with its own unique flavor profile.To further enhance his skills, Malek took part in Penn State’s highly reputable Ice Cream Short Course in January 2013. The program has been attended by many master minds in the ice cream business and “is the oldest, best-known, and largest educational program dealing with the science and technology of ice cream.” In September 2014 the Maleks brought their ice cream to Los Angeles and opened their first location outside of Portland. The location offers classic Salt & Straw flavors along with seasonal flavors featuring ingredients only found in southern California. Three more Los Angeles locations were opened in 2016, in Venice Beach, Studio City, and the Arts District.
In 2016, Malek and his cousin opened Salt & Straw’s Wiz Bang Bar in Portland’s first food hall, the Pine Street Market. The Wiz Bang Bar is a soft serve dessert bar featuring fresh spins on the childhood swirl, sundaes, novelties, and more. In 2016, Food & Wine Magazine called Wiz Bang Bar’s Chocolate Tacolates the “world’s greatest Choco Tacos.” The chef-driven nature of the company has also been showcased through collaborations with chefs across the country. He has collaborated with Portland-based chef, Jenn Louis (one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs 2012) on an annual dinner where ice cream is a key component of each dish served. Additionally, Malek has worked to create one-of-a-kind ice cream flavors and dishes with chefs Michael Voltaggio, Gregory Gourdet, Susan Feniger, Mary Sue Milliken and Roy Choi.
Based on his accomplishments, Malek was selected as one of Forbes 30 Under 30: The Food & Drink Masters Changing How We Eat and Eater Young Guns Semi-Finalists for 2013. Portland Business Journal named Salt & Straw one of the 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies in Oregon for 2014. Salt & Straw has also become renowned for it’s commitment to employees. The Oregonian named Salt & Straw as one of Oregon’s Top Workplaces in both 2014 and 2015. A workshop with Danny Meyer, CEO Union Square Hospitality Group and whose restaurants and chefs have won an unprecedented 25 James Beard Awards, inspired Malek and his cousin to build a company committed to a culture of hospitality for both customers and employees.
Malek studied Chinese and business at Western Washington University, graduating in 2010. He discovered his passion for blending flavors together when studying abroad in Beijing, China and traveling throughout Vietnam and Cambodia.
Instagram/Twitter @TylerJamesMalek