The Ice Cream Laboratory

It’s midway through summer here in the Philippines and that translates to sand, sea and sun! I’m currently in the capital city, Manila, and let me tell you this. If Cebu is simmering hot, Manila is on boiling point. We even reached 39 degrees Celsius last week. Whew! I guess I was so used to our semi-provincial home back in Cebu that the metropolitan humidity was a total shocker. I expected it but the level of intensity caught me off guard. There are days when I sweat immediately after I get off the shower. Exaggeration? Oh I’m not even kidding. The bright side however is that I get to eat ice cream. Lots and lots of it! DIY Magnum, dirty ice cream, halo-halo, mais con hielo? Yes I’ve had them. Smoking ice cream from the Ice Cream Laboratory? That too!

These photos were actually from a few months ago. (Talk about delayed blog posts right?) My family and I were on our way to Binondo and we passed by the Lucky China Town Mall along the way. As we did, we happen to come across a kid buying some smoking ice cream. We got curious so we ordered one for ourselves too!

The Ice Cream Laboratory uses liquid nitrogen to create their ice cream. They'll make everything from scratch and you'll see the mixture turn into our favorite frozen delight after the liquid is poured and the smoke clears. The concept is not new anymore. As a matter of fact I’ve heard about a restaurant that serves its food with liquid nitrogen and you can see smoke escape your mouth and nostrils while you eat! It may sound scary and geeky but I’m a full out nerd so why not?

Would you look at that! Those three guys on my back are my cousins. The man in stripes was another curious customer. Don’t we all look bewildered? Kids at heart, that’s what we are.

Here’s a closer shot of that liquid nitrogen action! See all that smoke? I also love how the servers dressed up in lab gowns. The stall was also embellished with Erlenmeyer flasks, test tubes and glass cylinders. Did I happen to fall inside Dexter’s lab? Where’s Dee Dee? If you’re a 90’s kid then I’m sure you get what I mean. *wink*

I ordered the mango float flavor. Each single serving costs P 140.00. I have to admit that I find it a little pricey and if not for the theatrics of the preparation, I may have skipped it. Is it worth a try? I would say yes. The experience is actually a delight and the ice cream is pretty good too.

What do you think about the Ice Cream Laboratory? Will you try this out for yourself?