Spartan Incubator Business Brings Home Sweet Prize

At Dessert Wars Tampa on Oct. 24 at the Florida State Fairgrounds, Nelly’s Fried Creamery placed second for its fried ice cream, winning $2,500. The business, owned by Janelle Augustin, is part of the Spartan Incubator in the University of Tampa’s John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center. 

Of the 50-plus vendors sharing samples on Saturday, Nelly’s was voted into the top five by the more than 500 attendees. Finalists were judged by a panel that included celebrity baker Kristina Lavallee and news anchor Jamison Uhler.

Nelly’s has been wrapping scoops of ice cream in other desserts, such as cake, donuts and brownies, and then battering and frying them, since its founding in 2018.