Mook up your mind

Back in the early 2000s, the ice cream brand "Tilamook" was an insider's secret.

In the Philippines, this thick, super creamy and super delish ice cream was only available at the commissary at ADB. So, you had to know someone who works there in order to taste the holy grail of ice creams.

Luckily, we had a few friends in ADB, so we'd enjoy this treat every so often.

Now, you can find Tilamook in big supermarkets, along with a plethora of imported and premium ice cream brands. Which is awesome, especially since they also carry my fave flavour - Dark Oregon Cherry.

It's very rare that they have a cherry flavoured ice cream. The closest being Ben and Jerry's "Cherry Garcia." But the Tilamook version is purer - because it's just cherry all throughout.

That's my despite the high-ish price tag, my mind is set on Tilamook.

Rita's Return

It saddened me when Rita's Italian Ice closed its doors in 2022. 

Their Greenhills branch was our go-to stopover after our Unilab meetings. Their UP Town Center branch was where we'd have dessert after a long day of malling.

Looks like I'll be able to enjoy this cool treat once again.

Yes, they're back! And they'll have a branch at The Podium, apparently.

Can't wait for the return of Rita's!

Drunk on Dessert

Literally.

Especially if this is what you're having.

Much as it was tempting to try, we had some meetings here. Not a good idea to ingest alcohol before facing client.

Maybe next time.

Never too Leyte. For ice cream.

Looks like ice cream is a thing in Ormoc.

After lunch, we were walking around the boardwalk food park and found out that there were a lot of stalls selling ice cream. They were home made, and each "home" had their own flavour and twist to it.

We went to a stall named "Mesarap" and they had 5 flavours available: Avocado, Cookies and Cream, Mango, Strawberry and Ube. Being the fruit lover that I am, it was Mango and Strawberry for me.

The texture was super interesting and everything had crushed peanuts. Which is what made the texture diferent.

Too bad we weren't able to try the other brands. But it's never too late to go back.

Twin Peaks

Here's another fave childhood snack that's still around. 

Thankfully!

It used to be called Twin Popsies. It used to be a product of Magnolia. It used to come in a paper wrapper that you just slide off. It used to have a photo of Howie the mascot on the pack. 

So, there are some differences from my childhood.

What hasn't changed is the refreshing, orange goodness that comes with every stick. And yes, we still bread the Twin Pops in half, hoping that we get an even split instead of the dreaded "flag" formation. So, Nestle did a pretty good job of keeping Twin Popsies intact with their Twin Pops.

As they say, if ain't broke, don't fix it.

College Cool!

Oh look! Another “cool” post.

Friday was awesome!

Not only did I get to visit my old College and meet up with old and new friends, I also got to eat my favourite college snack - ice cream in a bun!

Cool!

Ice say goodbye

Rita's Ice is one of my go-to desserts.

Their cherry ice is just divine. And that's because I'm a huge fan of cherries.

Then, you add the custard! Divine!

But today, I just saw an announcement that Rita's Ice is saying goodbye. The pandemic claims another brand.

Although they've announced this with finality, I'm still hoping that they'll find a way to reopen once this situation is over.

Because no one can make Cherry Ice like Rita's.

Ben there, done that

Ben & Jerry's always brings back happy memories in Tokyo.

During summer time, Mark and I would walk down Omotesando and pass by the Ben & Jerry's store along the main road. We'd go inside and order a few scoops to nosh on while traversing the road from end to end.

Each time I did it, Mark would try different flavours while I'd stick with my usual Cherry Garcia.

Last Saturday, on my birthday, Mark went back to our Ben & Jerry's days by sending me a few pints of the ice cream to make our celebration cooler. Which it definitely did.

He said he tried looking for my usual Cherry Garcia, but it wasn't available. So, he sent a gamut of flavours, including my other fave - Phish Food!

Trust Mark to make my birthday both sweeter and cooler.

You're a Geno's!

If there's one item that's an additional mainstay in our freezers since June last year, it has to be this!

Yup, Geno's Ice Cream!

People who've been to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar know this brand as the ice cream that they serve in the resort. They're famous for their taro or gabi ice cream, which is the resort's best seller. I still remember a few visits to Las Casas where they ran out of taro ice cream due to the high demand.

No surprise there since that flavour really is da bomb!

Last year, we found out that there's a reseller near our area! And the rest is frozen in history! (Frozen. Ice Cream. Get it? Nudge-nudge-wink-wink!)

We can't get enough of it that's why whenever we're about to finish a gallon, we order a new one. It's a case of FOMOOG.

The great thing about having this often is that we got to try their other flavours as well. While the taro is really yummers, their mango, strawberry, chocolate and peanuts, and avocado are equally delicious!

Our Geno's obsession made me feel bad for our other go-to ice cream brands who were kicked out of the freezer. That line-up includes Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia, Big Scoop's Bubble Gum Mallows and Mint Chocolate Chip, and Tilamook Vanilla!

While they're all so yummy, Geno's looks like it's going to have a secure spot in our freezer for a while.

But if - by any chance - Bohol Bee Farm's Ice Cream finds its way to Manila, well, that situation might change.

Let's (Man)Go!!!

During today's 7-11 run, I was standing near the ice cream freezer while in line for payment, when I inadvertently looked down and saw something inside the freezer.

It was a bright, yellow tub of Selecta Ice Cream, and it was part of their summer flavours collections. And on the lid were 2 of my favourite words in one name.

Mango. Mochi.

Yes! Selecta had Mango Mochi Ice Cream!

Of course, we all know how this one ended. We're having Mango Mochi ice cream for dessert tonight.

Twin Treats!

Look who’s back in the market?

It’s my favorite childhood ice cream treat - Twin Popsies!

We used to have this a lot as kids, mainly because Dad worked for San Miguel. We’d get these by the box, and enjoy it by pairs. We’d split the treat into two, and a sibling and I would get one each. Sometimes, if you split it the wrong way, one person would get a “P” shaped, one and a half part, while the other person would just get half of half.

Thankfully, that didn’t happen often.

Now that Twin Popsies is back, we can relive those moments again! And yes, it also comes in orange flavor - my personal favorite.

This is going to give “twinning” a totally new meaning.

Berry nice!

In celebration of the Sakura season, McDonald's in HKG came out with a special edition strawberry series inspired by the pink hues of the sakura.

Strawberry? I'm definitely on-board!

Strawberry waffle cone + Strawberry soft serve + Strawberry cookie = Strawberry bliss!

It's definitely tastes as good as it looks.

Charcoal me maybe

While walking in Cubao, I spotted the neighborhood Lawson and decided to go inside. Just for kicks. Even if I know it's not like the Lawson in Japan. Even if they don't have onigiri.

Okay, that's enough lamenting.

When I got inside, I found this instead!

Yes, the bamboo charcoal soft serve ice cream is old news, but the fresh caramel one is pretty new!

I tried it, and it's SO GOOD!

Will definitely come back for this.

Berry nice!

Now there are two reasons to go back to Family Mart.

Green Tea AND Raspberry! Two of my favorite flavors, now in one!

Get ready Family Mart! Here I come!

Mmm.. Mmm... Magnum

Last Saturday, my students kept on talking about Magnum inside and outside the classroom. At first, I didn't know what they were talking about. All I gathered was that Magnum was something to eat, that it was available at 7-11, that it was P60, and that everyone was obsessed about it.

Later on, I found out that it was Magnum Ice Cream.



Actually, I know Magnum from way back. I used to eat Magnum when I was living in HKG and the summer heat was unbearable. It's good ice cream, although I wasn't hooked on Magnum as much as I was hooked on Bulla Ice cream.

Now that Magnum's here and everyone's talking about it, maybe I should give it another shot.