coolhaus ceo shares her haute secrets to Los Angeles

Natasha Case is literally the queen of ice cream. Case is the co-founder and CEO of Coolhaus, the company she founded with Freya Estreller in 2009 that has become Los Angeles’ most beloved artisanal ice cream brand.After working in architecture at Walt Disney Imagineering, the ladies launched their architecturally-inspired, unique ice cream sandwich company from their barely drivable postal van at the Coachella Music Festival to an audience of 100,000. They built a loyal following over the festival weekend and returned to LA to an abundance of viral press, a rapidly building social media following, and an eager foodie audience. Since then, she has been named a Forbes 30 under 30 Food & Beverage, Zagat 30 Under 30, Linked in 10 under 35 for Food & Leisure, as well as being featured in many national publications and radio like Cosmo, Dwell, and NPR, and TV shows including Food Network’s Chopped, Barefoot Contessa, Unique Sweets, Good Morning America, King of Cones, Andy Cohen Live and many more. Today Case works as the CEO of Coolhaus, creating new product opportunities from development to design, building new relationships and innovating ideas that keep Coolhaus on top of it’s game as zealous expansion continues. Here, this ice cream aficionado (whose favorite sweet treat is her brown butter churro dough on a profiterole cookie) shares her secrets to the City of Angels.

Where were you born: Los Angeles; proud Cedars Sinai baby just like my son, Remy!

How long in LA: 33 years, with the exception of UC Berkeley for undergraduate, and a year spent in Italy

Neighborhood: Now, Mid-City Heights

Occupation: Co-Founder and CEO of Coolhaus

Favorite Restaurant: Maude

Best Sushi: Shunji (omakase)

Best dessert: love the chocolate tart at Odys & Penelope, or truly you can’t go wrong at La Republique

Best place for a romantic date: Taylor’s steakhouse

Best Sunday brunch: my house! Freya (my wife) makes the most incredible breakfasts featuring produce from our garden.

Best place for a power business meeting: I love the mid-century bar and aperitivo at Mr. C’s. Soho House is always a good fit too – recently visited the new LES house (NYC) and LOVED it.

Best Italian: Sotto

Favorite place to buy jewelry/watches: Platt Boutique off Robertson – incredible vintage and modern pieces.

Best Spa: Natura in Ktown

Favorite Charity Event: No Kid Hungry, especially the LA gala where we have raised as much as $100k in a night with our Coolhaus catering offer in the the live auction.

Favorite Cultural Event: Barnsdall Art Park picnics, wine tastings and outdoor cinemas. The Hollyhock house is right on the property, and I used to take art classes next door.

Favorite Cultural Institution: Museum of Jurassic Technology – right near us here in Culver City.

Best Steakhouse: Cut is incredible.

Best Pizza: Cosa Buona and Jon & Vinny’s

Best Lunch: I love the options down the street from us at Platform like Loqui and my team just tried Hayden, and they raved about it. I also love Klean LA delivery service.

Best Gym/Athletic Facility: LA Athletic Club. DO NOT skip a martini post-work-out.

Best Massage: order Soothe to your house!

Best Limousine/Driving Service: Lyft

Best Museum/Exhibit: LACMA has been on fire recently – I love their installations (Chris Burden lights and Levitated Mass by Michael Heizer), the Broad is a fantastic collection, and I am also very curious to see the new Marciano Art Foundation.

Describe your city in three words: renaissance, bohemian, evolving.

Favorite historic/legendary place to see or explore: the LA River always fascinates me, and I love the gated (but pedestrian friendly) areas near our house like Lafayette Square – epic!

All-around favorite spot in Los Angeles: Culver City, where our HQ and flagship store is.

Best Aspect of Los Angeles: LA is SO not complete and finished in it’s path toward forming it’s true identity and tapping all the potential of the people and resources that are part of it. I love being part of that mission and living here in such a formative time in the city in aspects ranging from the arts, to food, to transportation, to urban farming and new industry.