White Smoke Adventure at The Iscreamist

I've always considered ice cream to be a "safe dessert." You know, a treat that you can have anytime, anywhere with generally positive results. When I travel, I make it a point to try the distinct ice cream flavors of the places I visit: Other Asian countries love their red/adzuki beans, and China always has something with black sesame seeds (my favorite). As for the gourmet selection, my go-to flavor has always been Salted Caramel, even before it went mainstream. Merry Moo makes superb Salted Caramel, and their Earl Grey is also a must-try. That said, I'm definitely no stranger to out-of-the-ordinary creations.

The Iscreamist has been on my radar for over a year now. My Dad took us there on a Sunday night for dessert, but found out that they were closed on Sundays. So after a year of wondering when I'd finally get to try it out, M called me up one night to join our friends for a quick ice cream break.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Menu[/caption]

Located in Teacher's Village, the small ice cream boutique is bathed in blue light from the glowing neon sign in front. My attention was immediately drawn to the counter where all the "magic" was happening. Staff was hard at work pouring liquid nitrogen into stainless bowls and mixing like crazy to freeze the ice cream. Mystical-looking white smoke covered the entire counter and wisped down towards the floor, reminiscent of the vanilla flower scene with Sarah Michelle Gellar and Sean Patrick Flanery in Simply Irresistible (light and cute movie, by the way).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpCG0tGHHcs

M and I had a hard time deciding on what flavors we wanted. Having heard of this shop as a purveyor of artisanal ice cream, I wanted to "go big or go home" by trying the most unusual thing on the menu. There was plenty to choose from: Bacon Leche Flan, Xecret Breakfast (whisky-based), and Guinness (as in, the stout) to name a few. Dragon's Breath is also a famous concoction, but was out-of-stock at the time. M wanted to try Butter Pecan at first, but we both eventually agreed on orders of Xycret Breakfast and Guinness instead. Our friends picked Coffee and Blueberry Cheesecake.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] Xycret Keeper: A bowl of Xycret Breakfast[/caption]

For a non-drinker like myself, Xycret Breafast has that alcohol taste and a hint of bleu cheese. I'm sure the base doesn't contain bleu cheese, but that's just the impression I got: a creamy, pungent flavor. Corn flakes were sprinkled all over for an added texture. Weird as that sounds, the flakes and flavor go well together. It's like eating a spiked bowl of cereals, all right.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] Dark, Sweet and Salty: Guinness with pretzels[/caption]

Guinness was different but the same. I find stouts a bit too strong in flavor, and this ice cream spells yeast right from the first spoonful. With a drizzling of caramel syrup and a topping of peanut butter-filled pretzel pillows, it's a bar snack and dessert in one. Again, the topping and the ice cream go well together via the yeasty taste of both. Personally, this isn't my cup of tea, but stout fans will be satisfied.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] Chip Off the Ice Block: Java Chip[/caption]

Unusual as I wanted to go, Java Chip was still the best for me. They didn't scrimp out on the quality, so it was like taking a cup of Starbucks' dark mocha. It'll make a coffee-lover smile.

The shop is small and there are only a few seats, so it's not uncommon to see The Iscreamist filled with people. Since menu items are made-to-order, you have to deal with the wait time, especially if the place is packed. It's not exactly cheap as we paid PHP 110 for some of the flavors.  The price depends on the ice cream base used. I'm definitely coming back to try Dragon's Breath, so I hope they'll have it available again when I get there.

The Iscreamist  -  46 D, Magiting St., Teacher's Village, East Diliman, Q.C.

Tapsilog Centrale: 2013 Starts with Tapsilog

Happy New Year, everybody! My 2013 so far has been a cacophony of activity, but I'm happy for it. It's always better to be active than idle, don't you think? And at my first chance to write an entry this year, I've decided that it's going to be about one of my favorite Filipino comfort foods: the Tapsilog.

For the uninitiated, the "something-silog" translates to something (a viand)+sinangag (garlic rice)+itlog (egg). Most common "somethings" are beef tapa (marinated beef in chunks or strips) and pork tocino (marinated in a sweet sauce; commonly pink in color), known as tapsilog and tocilog, respectively. It's a versatile and inexpensive meal that can be eaten at any time of the day, comparable to Malaysia's Nasi Lemak. Tapsilogan (a roadside restaurant that specialize in -silog dishes) can be found everywhere in the city for all to enjoy with most of them being open 24/7.

My dad was feeling peckish last night, so we decided to stop by this place he was talking about that had Angus beef tapa as a premium option. We drove to Kamuning and parked in front of a small, open-air eatery that looked Pinoy homey with its dim lighting and red gingham-under-plastic table dressing. The place is called Tapsilog Centrale, and it apparently has a good following. All sorts of people come to eat, from taxi drivers and nearby residents to visitors who've intentionally trekked to its Q.C. location.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614"] Tapsilog Centrale[/caption]

I ordered a plate of their Hot and Spicy Angus Beef Tapsilog upon the recommendation of my Dad. Also available are the following Angus tapa marinades: Original, Korean, Tropical (their sweet blend), and Tropical Spicy. All orders of Angus beef are cooked in front of the dining area, while regular menu items are prepared in the back kitchen. Prices of the Angus Tapsilog range from PHP125-PHP150, depending on the marinade.

In all fairness, the place has  comprehensive menu for a simple roadside resto. In addition to all manner of -silog combinations, local and imported drinks (cans of Welch's grape soda and bottle of Starbucks coffee to name a few), sausages, and desserts are offered.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614"] Menu part 1[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614"] Menu part 2[/caption]

Hot and Spicy was neither too hot nor too spicy. Bits of chili are mixed in with the beef, but nothing too extreme. It's not too salty, but to me would definitely taste better with vinegar. Days later, I came back with a friend and ordered the Tropical marinade, which I ended up preferring over Hot and Spicy for its hint of sweetness.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614"] Hot and Spicy[/caption]

And for dessert? We tried The Dome and the Frozen Mango Brazo. Both are good. Rich chocolate mousse filling and a ganache coating over a cake dome makes for a delicious chocolate dessert. The baker didn't skimp out on the chocolate, that's for sure. The frozen brazo is available in banana or mango. It's an enjoyable treat with all its yummy layers and light meringue top-off.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614"] The Dome[/caption]

For a late night food run, this place is a good choice. Just try not to come during the dinner rush as the seats and the parking spaces are easily filled. Oh, and they have free WiFi.

Tapsilog Centrale -  11th Jamboree St. cor. Kamuning Rd., Q.C.