Chef
Chad Draizin
- Discipline
- Chef
- Based in
- Portland, Oregon, United States
i. Biography
“It can’t just rely on novelty or gimmick.” That standard sits at the center of Chad Draizin’s work at Fifty Licks Ice Cream in Portland, where he is chef, founder, and owner. The measure is not decoration but durability: a flavor has to hold its own, come back on the palate, and read as something worth repeating. The test is whether a scoop can become a reference point rather than a one-off. Draizin puts it plainly: “It has to be something that has the potential to be a new classic, like our Mango Sticky Rice has become.” Depth, balance, and character matter more than first impression.
The Path
Early experience at Portland Brewing Company in Portland, Oregon gave Chad Draizin an entry point into the work at ground level as an intern. That kind of start tends to build discipline around process, and the same discipline shows up now in a methodical approach to ingredients and execution. Fifty Licks Ice Cream is the company Draizin founded, and its identity reflects that same working logic: precision over flash, consistency over noise. The result is a menu that reads as considered rather than showy.
The Work Today
Made completely from scratch and using locally sourced ingredients, the ice cream at Fifty Licks is built with no shortcuts between base and finished scoop. As chef of the company he started, Chad Draizin keeps the standard simple: a flavor has to earn its place beyond surprise. The named scoops show how that standard gets applied in practice. Chocolate AF goes dark and dense, with rich, deep, dark chocolate ice cream laced with homemade chocolate ganache. Blood Orange Creamsicle pairs intensely rich buttermilk ice cream with blood orange syrup, bringing brightness and weight into the same spoonful. Tahitian Vanilla centers single-origin vanilla from Tahiti, described as guaranteed intense, a reminder that the most familiar flavor still demands exactness.
Signature
Chad's signature dishes include Mango Sticky Rice, Chocolate AF, Blood Orange Creamsicle, Tahitian Vanilla, and Butter SCOTCH Whisky. Together, they show a range built around comfort, saturation, and enough distinction to register without leaning on gimmickry.
In Their Words “It has to be something that has the potential to be a new classic, like our Mango Sticky Rice has become.” “It can’t just rely on novelty or gimmick.”
Acclaim
The recognition here is sensory and practical. People return for the flavor that holds together jasmine rice, coconut milk, and alphonso mango, and the rest of the menu follows the same rule: invention only matters when it can be asked for again. That is the quiet standard driving Fifty Licks Ice Cream in Portland—dessert built to outlast the first spoonful.
Profile updated August 2026
FAQ
Asked of Chad
Where did Chad Draizin work before?
Chad Draizin's earlier career included Portland Brewing Company.
What is Chad Draizin known for?
He specializes in ice cream made completely from scratch using locally sourced ingredients.