CremeBru.LA New Member at the AFM for 2021

Welcoming CremeBru.LA and Dan Levine (an Amherst native) to the Amherst Farmers' Market as a new member for the 2021 season!  Dan, Theresa Ryan AND their son, Ben, will be offering something new AND delicious on Saturdays at the AFM!

Dan Levine of CremeBru.LA (@cremebru.la on Instagram and Facebook) grew up in Amherst and started in foodservice at Antonio’s in the early 90s. His first experiences with Creme Brûlée were at local restaurants like the Blue Heron and the Night Kitchen.
After college in Michigan and 20 years in New York and California, first as a writer and then in technology, Dan met Theresa Ryan in LA. In 2015, their son Ben was born. 
Dan had always loved to cook and Theresa, currently a voiceover actor and Realtor™️, spent decades in restaurants and as a karaoke host and event DJ. Somehow during a 2019 visit to Dan’s childhood home, Dan and Theresa found themselves testing out creme brûlée recipes for 25 of his parents’ friends. 

When COVID hit, Dan and Theresa started selling BBQ out of their driveway as a way to safely see friends and neighbors. Soon, creme brûlée, impossible to find in restaurants at the time, was added to the menu and then took it over completely, with flavors ranging from Vanilla to Cappuccino, Honey Lavender, Maple Bacon, Mexican Chocolate and even Rosewater.

As COVID wore on, Dan longed for a slower pace and the chance to provide Ben with a supportive, inclusive, welcoming childhood filled with green spaces like his own. One rented RV and 3000 miles later, that dream became a reality, and CremeBru.LA was the next step in the process. 

The Amherst Farmer’s Market’s unique blend of commerce, community and quality has always held a special appeal for Dan; from childhood treats and trinkets to a mandatory stop for ingredients during visits to grandma and grandpa’s house.

Even the Common itself is a welcome reminder of countless fond memories - shaving cream fights at the town fair, practicing for Ultimate or hanging out with high school friends who went on to Amherst College. The common, like the Market and like the town, just feels like home to Dan.

CremeBru.LA is currently working with Atkins Farms, Mapleline farms and Hall Poultry Farm and is actively expanding their list of local suppliers and customers. The next dream is a retail location in downtown Amherst staffed (at least in part) with autistic employees.

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