Ice Cream Chefs: I Scream Homemade Ice Cream!

Singapore's list of ice cream parlours is not too disappointing but if you have realized, there is none like Pop Tate's Chocklit Shoppe in Bob Montana's Archie comics…until Ice Cream Chefs (ICC) came along in mid-2007. Set up by co-founder Jeremy Wee, ICC allows you to savour innovative "100% homemade" ice-cream in the good company of fun and friends – the way Archie and friends always did at Pop Tate's.


At this ice cream parlour, fun is a big factor despite its minuscule size: the cheerful greetings from the " Ice Cream Chefs", the enticing purple candy-coloured walls, and the large photo collage of customers' snapshots that have been playfully doodled-on with funny captions.


Replicating the concept of Marble Slab Creamery's and Cold Stone Creamery's homemade ice cream, ICC scoops out innovative cold concoctions by "mashing" its "100% homemade" (mixed, made and froze in-house) ice cream and various "mix-ins" (a.k.a toppings) on a "Chef's Rock" (a frozen granite slab). When it comes to the assortment of ice cream and mix-ins, though, ICC takes on the Willy Wonka's school of thought. Here, the flavours of ice cream range from the usual suspects of Beanie Vanilla, Strawberries and Chocolates & Hersheys; to the sinful Nutella Delight and Nutty Peanut Butter; to the healthy Blueberries and Waterlemony, and even to the localized Durian, Milo Peng and Milk Tea! The mix-ins, too, goes the similar route with at least 30 kinds of toppings! What's more, Tuesdays are free mix-ins days and you can have your first mix-in for free and subsequent mix-ins at the standard charge of $0.70.

At ICC, "homemade" is an understatement ("personalized" would better fit the bill): ICC welcomes your new flavour ideas and lets you bring your own mix-ins so that you can play ice cream inventor. But if you do not trust your own judgement, here are some cool creations which are, well, absolutely cool!

High on ICC's list of must-tries is Fruity Overload ($4.80 for large), a concoction of watermelon, Mrs. Smith (green apple and cinnamon) and peach ice cream that is laden with Fruit Loops and Corn Flakes. Popular amongst the ladies and weight-watchers, this healthy fruity concoction has the initial suspect taste of strawberries and cream that gracefully veers into a fruitier tang. The fillings of Fruit Loops and Corn Flakes were the right amount of crunchiness, though perhaps fresh fruits would be a better choice for mix-ins.

If you are in a dire need for a midday caffeine fix, the Cappuccino Chocolate Crunch ($4.80 for large) – a blend of chocolate, cappuccino and Nutella ice cream – will perk you up in more ways than a steaming cup of coffee can. With its sinfully rich mocha flavour, no surprises for guessing that this chocolate-cappuccino-Nutella ice cream will prevail as the new café mocha. What's more, the crunchy mix-in of Kinder Bueno and M&Ms in every mouthful will have coffee connoisseurs converting into Cappuccino Chocolate Crunch fans.

For the adventurous, try the Durian Surprise ( $4.80 for large), a customer's innovation of durian and chocolate ice cream mixed with Loackers mini wafers. Sceptics are advised to think along the lines of chocolate-covered strawberries and banana splits to rid of doubts. Rich, fragrant, sinful, sweet and crunchy in all the right parts, this is one must-try for fans of the thorny fruit.


It is all self-service here: select from the array of ice cream and mix-ins, watch the ice cream master smash your ice cream into shape on the Chef's Rock, and collect and pay for your ice-cream at the cashier. Nevertheless, the service is warm and friendly.

The SD Food Advisor's take on Ice Cream Chefs
Due to its unassuming location at the residential area of East Coast Road, ICC is a well-kept secret (especially amongst the secondary school students studying in the Katong schools) but the ice creams here are somewhat worth the journey. True lovers of ice cream will warmly welcome ICC's "create your own ice cream" concept while the rest of us can depend on the ice cream chefs' good judgement.

Author Bio: This petite wordsmith and literary mistress sure dream big: She wishes to place herself alongside the likes of legendary travel writer Paul Edward Theroux and celebrated food writer Alan Eaton Davidson as she unveils only the best of Singapore’s hot zones and sizzling kitchens. For this, Ezaida digs going “off the beaten track” to take her alike-minded audience on a Singaporean road less-traveled.

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Shopping for Gifts Online Makes Life Easier

In the past, our lives didn't feel or seem as chaotic as they are today. In this day and age, many people find it hard to even allocate time to look after some of their most basic necessities. Fortunately for us, the advent of the internet has cured most of our time and location dilemmas. The phenomena known as the Internet has provided a crutch for us and helps most people solve their daily problems and support their daily needs. From communicating with a boss to seeing if your kids' school is closed, negotiating deals and catching up with a lost friend, from sending a gift basket to a loved one just to say hi or showing your deepest sympathies, the internet has provided us a means for almost everything we need with only a few clicks of a mouse. The advancements of computing technologies in this day and age are making some areas of life much easier, as this write up about shopping for gifts online will elucidate.

The question that we must first answer; why do people feel the need to purchase gifts for their loved ones, friends and colleagues? The simplest answer can be that a gift is a way of expressing our feelings or thoughts to somebody else that may be hard to express through other means. A gift is quite possibly the best way to express oneself to somebody else, because of the many emotions involved with receiving a gift. When the receiver opens up the package and reads the card, they are first overwhelmed by the fact that somebody spent their much valued time, effort and money on sending them a gift. The second emotion usually involves the message being expressed through the gift, which may be congratulations, recognition, sympathy, or just thinking of you. This emotion usually sends the receiver into a euphoric state overcome by the thought of getting such a wonderful surprise and through the way the sender expressed his or her feelings or thoughts. These emotions and feelings tied to gift giving and receiving is what keeps customers shopping the internet day in and day out for gifts and gift baskets.

We now know the advantages of receiving gifts but the idea of purchasing and sending a gift to a loved one, friend or colleague can make most people nauseous. That was before the internet came into our lives, when one would have to plan out which store to shop, drive there, walk around looking for the best way to express to their selves, find the right gift, go home wrap it and ship it. Phew, that was exhausting just writing down! Now there are no worries because of the many gift shops online.

One of the main advantages of shopping for gifts online is, like any other commodity, the variety of mediums one can choose from. Whether you want a gift or gift basket sent to USA, Middle East, Europe or South East Asia it is all possible and quite easy while shopping on the internet. While much gift shopping occurs in Asia, India, China and other eastern countries, the majority of the marketplace lies in the western world. There are scores of websites in N. America and Europe that offer high quality and inexpensive gifts and gift baskets to the masses.

Now we know how to give and receive gifts and gift baskets, so let's get into the science behind it. While shopping online for gifts, most stores will have your general gift ideas such as baby gifts, corporate gifts, wine & fruit baskets, holiday gifts, hand delivered gifts, and many other items for you loved ones, friends and colleagues. While shopping for the perfect gift, do not be overwhelmed by the vast selections offered but hone in on what you want to express and keep in mind the mood of the occasion without losing the personality of you and the receiver. Baby gifts will always subtle pink & blues with necessities for newborn and their parents. A corporate gift will express your professionalism with a splash of your personality.

A majority of the gifts and gift baskets you will run into online will be comprised of cookies, wines, fruits and chocolates along with some decorations to highlight moods and styles. Thank you, congratulations, breakfast, sympathy, coffee and tea, spa, wedding and birthday baskets are some universal gifts that one may come across at most of these online shopping stores. With this brief overview of the advantages of giving and receiving gifts through the internet, one could see why shopping for gifts online makes life easier in many ways.

Kevin James is a freelance writer who often writes on behalf of FilledWithGifts.com. Visit this online shopping store to learn more about purchasing gifts and gift baskets online.

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Flower Gifts

Flowers are a popular gift and in high demand, the florists are always busy distributing them, and each spring, greenhouses and nurseries contain legions of new buds waiting to be transplanted into yards and gardens.

Flowers speak the language of love. It also speaks your concern and condolence on specific occasions of grief and sorrow. One of the best ways of expressing your love and affection to your beloved ones is through flowers - The flowers-colorful, fragrant and fresh from the gardens.

If you want to gift it right, invest in flowers. Life's many hurly-burly capers are best tackled through flowers to enfold the giver and the recipient in waves of human bonding. Flowers combine a mysterious subtlety and breath-taking beauty that unfailingly connect to the occasion.

The online flower shopping has many advantages. The first and the foremost is the wide range of choice given by these sites. One can read everything about the flowers and can make a right choice.

Flowers come in many forms, shapes and sizes. Everyone likes some kind of flower, so you can always customise the flowers you buy for the recipient.

Florists can offer enough guidance. Quick net surf can also guide you on flower etiquette for the month, day, zodiac, country, emotion or situation you find yourself in. Colors, numbers and types of flowers, ingenious packaging/presentation can all be tailor made for maximum impact.

As florists, Floralhaven.com is used for serving buyers who like to express their feelings by sending flowers. They might be corporate entities too who have discovered the value of a fresh and simple messages that flowers convey.

Next time when you nurture the flower gift idea of surprising your loved one with a bouquet of flowers remember not to waste time on loitering the local flower shops , take a look at the online florists and order for a bunch of fresh fragrant flowers that carries your warmth and love .

Fresh or carefree, serene or sensual, poised and elegant-flowers can define your relationships with cutting edge accuracy. So shake off the blues, drum up the enthusiasm, heal the wounds and bedeck the opportunity with flowers.

Next time when you nurture the flower gift idea of surprising your loved one with a bouquet of flowers remember not to waste time on loitering the local flower shops , take a look at the online florists and order for a bunch of fresh fragrant flowers that carries your warmth and love .

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