OUR STORY

At Big Spoon, we’re really passionate about two big ideas: making the best possible ice cream, and using it as a vehicle to positively impact our community. We are proud to offer handmade artisanal ice cream with a focus on local and seasonal ingredients. We’re committed to making the highest quality ice cream possible with the best ingredients and an impeccable attention to detail.

Our journey started in 2010 after meeting while working under James Beard Award Winning Chef Frank Stitt. We eventually started dating and got married in April 2014. Three months later, Big Spoon was born as a pop-up in our driveway. This quickly evolved into an ice cream cart, then a truck, and eventually our first brick-and-mortar location in Avondale in 2017. Two years later, we opened our second location in Homewood, and then a third in Huntsville in 2023.

When you visit our shops, we hope you have the best ice cream of your life. But more than that, our hope is that you experience meaningful hospitality and make lifelong memories with the people that you love.

Thank you for visiting; we’re so glad that you’re here!

Forever Ice Cream Dreamin’,

Ryan & Geri-Martha O’Hara

our team

ryan O’hara, owner/founder

As Co-Owner of Big Spoon Creamery, Ryan O’Hara works in tandem with his wife, Geri-Martha, to offer guests a world-class experience with their artisanal ice cream and unparalleled hospitality. A Magic City native, Ryan grew up in the suburbs of Birmingham and began his culinary career in 2007. After working at multiple Birmingham area restaurants, he eventually landed at famed Birmingham institution, Bottega. There, he learned and developed his culinary knowledge under the leadership of James Beard Award Winning Chef Frank Stitt, and was later promoted to sous chef of Stitt’s French bistro, Chez FonFon.

While Geri-Martha oversees the back-of-house operations to create Big Spoon’s rotating seasonal flavors, Ryan focuses on operations, building their team, and developing leaders that embody the company’s culture. Through intentional hiring and thoughtful employee onboarding, Ryan has created a team that finds joy in taking hospitality to the next level.

When Ryan isn’t at one of their shops or leading the team, he can be found spending time with the couple’s two children, playing golf, or traveling and trying new restaurants.

geri-martha O’Hara, owner/founder

As Co-Owner and Founder of Big Spoon Creamery, Geri-Martha uses her 16 years of pastry experience and passion for people to create world-class artisanal ice cream and offer unparalleled hospitality. After growing up in North Alabama, Geri-Martha graduated from the University of Alabama in 2007 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Entrepreneurship. Soon after, she began her career as a pastry chef, eventually working her way up to Executive Pastry Chef at Dodiyo’s in Homewood, AL. In 2010, she moved to New York City to expand on her pastry expertise, working under award-winning pastry chefs like Johnny Iuzzini, Dominique Ansel and Michael Laskonis. When she returned to Birmingham, she applied her learnings in her role as pastry chef at Bottega, an Italian-influenced concept from James Beard Award Winning Chef Frank Stitt.

In her role, Geri-Martha applies her extensive pastry and dessert background to develop Big Spoon’s artisanal handmade ice cream and lead her back-of-house team. Through her leadership, the team creates a rotating seasonal menu of flavors that celebrate high-quality, local ingredients. As Big Spoon continues to grow, Geri-Martha is dedicated to keeping its ice cream handmade, which includes creating each flavor’s ingredients in-house.

Geri-Martha is an active member of Les Dames D’Escoffier’s Birmingham chapter, a philanthropic organization of women leaders in the food, beverage, and hospitality industries. When she’s not leading the team at Big Spoon or brainstorming new flavors, Geri-Martha can be found spending time with her husband, Ryan, and their two sons.

EJ Smith, pastry director

CAITLIN HOYLE, DIRECTOR OF HOSPITALITY

CHARITABLE GIVING

Big Spoon is passionate about giving back to our community. To be considered for a donation, please submit the following form. Our leadership team reviews submissions at the beginning of every month and reaches out to those that we are able to support.