RETURN OF FARTMAN!

Creameries Localised

The recent spate of overactivity in the local ice-cream arena has left us with many brilliant flavours and textures, as well as many others that need too much of an acquired taste to savour.

It's not everyday that we get to see an ice-cream flavour make it big, but it's kind of disconcerting that ultimately the interesting flavours that were designed have largely been homegenized, and sooner than later there will be cloned startups that hitch onto the success of these earlier successful and original parlours just to make a quick buck.

Thus far, I've heard of 4 local parlours worth mentioning, and I've been to but 3. Mission has not been accomplished yet obviously. They are: Island Creamery @ Serene Centre, Ice-skimo @ Upp Thomson, Forgotten Name @ Shaw Towers, and The Daily Scoop @ Sunset Way (which I have yet to lay my siege upon).

Ice-skimo was a huge disappointment, with their ice-cream temperature not held at the ideal, and thus resulting in the ice-cream becoming too watery to savour by the time it reached the table.

So far, Island Creamery has been our best bet, and I love the Teh Tarik that they serve there. Other flavours include Horlicks, Apple Pie, Chendol, Pulut Hitam and the likes. An Awesome array of choices. Everytime I go there I'm spoiled for choice, and it always never fails to send a slight wave of disappointment through me knowing how I can ultimately only get two flavours into my little cup.

Last night we stumbled upon the Forgotten Name @ Shaw Centre after a sumptious but excruciatingly uncomfortable dinner at Chong Qing Hot Pot. Flavours dished out at the looking glass included Horlicks once again, Apple Pie once again, Mixed Berries, Chrysanthemum (which tasted very authentic but too much like tea) following the success of Teh Tarik, and a new flavour which really threw my senses off - Wasabi Lime. I took a little pinch of it into my mouth, and I was rather taken aback. Sure, it was really unique, but that's where the good sentiments ended. I was thinking to myself "What the hell is this?!?!" It's a very innovative flavour, and I'm sure there'll be people raving about it, otherwise they wouldn't have churned it out in the first place. However, maybe it's just not for me, and like I said, maybe it just requires too much of my acquired taste.

Looking at the rather similar flavours on display, I started to wonder whether these flavours would eventually become a homogenized icon of our unique and apparently cultureless country, much like chicken rice and char kway teow. It's sad to know that one day, it probably would. However, from the point of view of my taste buds, an influx of similar flavours might not be that bad a thing, since the competing parlours will seek to outdo each other in terms of popularity and of course, taste. Mmmmmm... I see an awakening ahead. I like that.

posted by Da Buffalo! @ 1:21 PM