Kryse’s Story

Second-generation Filipina-American. Born and raised in San Francisco, hailing from Daly City, CA (home to the country’s highest concentration of Filipino Americans), born to Erlinda Panis Martin and Alfonso A. Martin. Raised with the help of her Lola Nora and Lolo Emong and Aunt Vicky. Pamilya has always been Kryse’s main focus. Kryse Panis Martin got her start as a chef and co-founder/owner/operator of Happy Grillmore food truck based in Portland, OR established in 2010.  While building her business and raising her three children- Ezra, Kalayaan and Kimeya- Kryse worked tirelessly developing the menu as head chef and manager.  Kryse helped grow that business from the ground up and would later go on to co-found and own three more Seattle-based brick and mortar restaurants that would quickly become the talk of the town. 

The first business in Seattle was a collaboration with former NBA player and three-time slam dunk champion Nate Robinson and former partner Darren McGill in 2014. With the buzz of Nate’s Wings and Waffles, Kryse and Darren would go on to co-found and own Central District Ice Cream Company named “Next-level Seattle ice cream” by the Seattle Met and allowed them a feature in the New York Times in the article titled “Celebrating America, Scoop by Frosty Scoop” written by Ligaya Mishan. Kryse’s sweet and savory recipes of rotating ice cream offerings were combined with community events including a monthly art show called Ice Cream Thursdae which featured some of the most talented local artists in Seattle. CD Ice Cream was becoming not only a source of sweet delights, but a vibrant community resource.  As both businesses began to get busy and become well-known Seattle staples, the duo did the unthinkable and launched a third business: Happy Grillmore brick and mortar, just around the corner from Nate’s. Grillmore would become known for its Mahjong Mondays and soon-housed CD Ice Cream, formally located on E. Union. Then, Seattle Freeze in Georgetown.  

After leaving the day-to-day of her businesses and picking up the pieces of a broken marriage, Kryse then went on to join the That Brown Girl Cooks catering team.  With the onset of COVID-19, TBGC catering transitioned to become a community kitchen.  Along with a group of close-knit Seattle chefs, the Seattle Community Kitchen Collective was formed with hundreds of meals provided to the people each week to help fight food insecurity since the start of the pandemic until now. And is now a proud member of the MACADONS team. After a long hiatus and at the request of the community, Kryse has returned to her creative kitchen.  Running business + working a PT job, markets, events, gathering & mobilizing AND being a single mother has definitely not been an easy feat. But Kryse’s got you! She has decided to launch her brand of ice cream titled simply KRYSE.  This is your chance to taste why so many have come to love and support her passion.  And understand how her love of feeding the people has masterfully united her gift of combining flavors.