Over the weekend, USA Today had one of those top ten lists of great things to do in the country. This particular top ten was on the best frozen desserts in America. Included in the group was Valley-based Sweet Republic which, until very recently, had only one small shop in Scottsdale.

So how does a small Phoenix eatery become nationally known? And how does it stay in the critics’ consciousness?

We found out from Howard Seftel, restaurant critic for The Arizona Republic.