We had the good fortune of connecting with Xiaoli Liu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Xiaoli, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
Yes, I do. It’s from Oprah—-The only courage you ever need is the courage to fulfill the dreams of your own life. It reminds me to talk to my inner-self and listen to my own voice. It reminds me to encourage myself whenever I’m at a low point and to follow my dreams and goals. Every morning when i wake up I fill my thoughts with gratitude and motivation, “you can do it, you are doing so much better than yesterday and all the hard work will be paid off”.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am the owner of an ice cream and dessert shop called ‘Icy-N-Spicy’ located on a historic and beautiful Ocean Drive street at Miami Beach. I also work full time at the store, making sure that every single detail is in order and that every our customer have the best possible experience and exceptional customer service. What sets us apart from others, besides our friendly staff that greats you with a smile is the quality of products and ingredients. We use only the best on the market, which makes a huge difference in final products. One of the things that makes me proud is our Social Media feedback. We are the best dessert shop in Miami, as said by many of our customers and followers, That fills my heart with joy, knowing that our hard work is recognized and appreciated. We are also popular on social media, for example, our TikTok got more than 450,000 followers and millions of likes. What excites me the most is that i get to be creative. We create new items for our menu weekly, and some of the feedback we got is that our desserts are the most photogenic and Social Media worthy. At Icy-N-Spicy, we are specialized in artisan ice cream and milkshake flavors. We have the most delicious Soft Serve ice cream that can be dipped in chocolate, and many of popular Cotton Candy creations like Ice cream cloud, Sweet Burrito and Taco. Visit us and indulge in some of our creations, dine in or take out for a stroll down the boulevard. Or if you are looking for a business opportunity, we have created and started a Franchise, so fell free to contact us and join our Icy-N-Spicy team.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Miami is an amazing city with lots of restaurants, beautiful places and tourist attractions. Icy-N-Spicy would definitely be high on a list of places to check out.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
In my early childhood I was living with my grandparents in a small village in Sichuan province, China. My parents were always busy with their work, so the grandma was the one who taught me how to make desserts. She plays the major role in the career that I’m in right now. She always enjoyed making desserts for the whole family and our happiness when eating her sweet creations were all the mattered to her. My grandpa was my whole world, he gave me all his attention and affection. He always liked to listen about my day and what i’ve learned in school. He gave me amazing examples of perspectives, showed me what is unconditional love and kindness. I have enjoyed just sitting near to him and having our small conversations. He told me never to give up when struggles and obstacles appears. To always chase my dreams and be who I am. So that’s why im dedicating this part to them.

Website: www.icynspicy.com
Instagram: @icynspicymiami
Twitter: icynspicymiami
Facebook: icynspicymiami
Yelp: Icy-N-Spicy
Youtube: Icy Spicy
Other: TikTok @icynspicymiami