Summer heat calls for refreshing coolers. So, trust chef extraordinaire Jessie Sincioco to help diners stay cool with her new ice cream treats using the popular homemade artisanal ice cream, Carmen’s Best Ice Cream.

 

“It’s the only ice cream I know that’s made with the finest ingredients you can find around,” says Sincioco. “Even the Holy Father agrees with this!”

 

Sincioco served Carmen’s Best ice cream to Pope Francis on his visit to Manila last year. The Pope had it on the flight to Manila and during his stay at the Apostolic Nunciature.

 

Apparently with a sweet tooth, he enjoyed every scoop of the ice cream.

 

Owned by Paco Magsaysay, Carmen’s Best is made of 100-percent cow’s milk and cream fresh from the family’s farm in Laguna.

 

Sincioco and Magsaysay have teamed up to offer the chef’s take on the ice cream at Chef Jessie Rockwell in Makati City starting April 1.

 

“It’s very timely because we have to think of something to offer for summer, and what is best and perfect for summer but ice cream?” says Sincioco. “The name is also fitting for me, because Carmen is the name of my mom.”

 

Intense flavor

 

Sincioco’s five ice cream concoctions start with Go Green, an intense pistachio flavor paired with pandan and macapuno.

 

Sincioco makes sure to excite the imagination as well as the taste buds with macapuno cream sandwiched in a pandan sponge, topped with pistachio ice cream and showered with coconut flakes and pistachio dust.

 

“I tried Carmen’s Best pistachio ice cream and I like the whole pistachio nuts inside,” says Sincioco.

 

Very Summer is another refreshing indulgence, packed with  luscious berries and fruits of summer—strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, mangoes and black cherries. Served on a Mason jar, the cold dessert with Carmen’s Best Madagascar Vanilla ice cream has chunks of toasted sponge for added crunch and orange zest.

 

Feel the Breeze has Carmen’s Best Salted Caramel ice cream served with very light, soft and silky cheesecake. The cheesecake is lovely and sedate with cream cheese, solid caramel and dulce de leche richness.

 

“Given the short time, I didn’t know how to call each concoction, but I was just inspired with the flavors that Paco carries like He’s Not Worth It (dark chocolate ice cream),” Sincioco says.

 

Stimulating treat

 

Another stimulating treat is  Get Addicted, featuring Carmen’s Best Brazilian Coffee ice cream. It’s a layer of coffee torte, coffee sponge, coffee mousse and coco nibs infused with fresh hot cream.

 

The sinful Be Tempted is a strong, deep chocolate treat using Carmen’s Best Dark Chocolate ice cream, which sits on a black forest roll that swims in Sinsioco’s signature chocolate sauce and topped with black cherry.

 

“It’s sinful, but at the end of the day it’s healthy because it’s all dark chocolate,” Sincioco claims.

 

Apart from Sincioco’s cool concoctions, she will also be offering Carmen’s Best’s other popular flavors —He’s Not Worth It, Butter Pecan, Rocky Road, Malted Milk, Brown Butter Almond Brittle—in single-serve cups.

 

Diners have options to enjoy either a dressed-up ice cream or a plain one. Either way, it’s a fantastic way to beat the heat.

 

E-mail the author at vbaga@inquirer. com.ph