Getting acquainted with Korean Ice Cream

I should really visit Korean groceries more. Last night, C took me to a Korean grocery near his house where I discovered two kinds of yummy Korean ice cream. Never mind the fact that we couldn't understand what was written on the packaging. The image on the wrapper was enough for us to make a good guess of what to expect inside :)

Red Bean + Vanilla Ice Cream + Mochi Sandwich

This first one is basically an ice cream sandwich, with a layer of red bean and mochi inside. The outer covering was a thin, crispy-soft layer of bread that reminded me of the taste of the host we receive during communion. After trying the red bean flavor of Mochiko, I instantly became a fan of anything red bean. This combination of the sweetness of the red bean, the chewiness of the mochi, and the sweet, creamy coldness of the ice cream was just perfect.

What you'll see once you bite into it

My second discovery was mochi-covered ice cream, again reminding me of Mochiko. I think the outer mochi layer was green tea flavored, and it complemented well the sweet vanilla and almond ice cream inside. I loved the added texture from the almond bits. I also enjoyed chewing on the mochi, which had a slightly gummy consistency.

Green Tea Mochi with Vanilla and Almond Ice Cream

Yes, there are two pieces inside!

Creamy vanilla and almond ice cream inside

I'm pretty sure if I spend ten more minutes inside a Korean grocery, I'll be able to find plenty of other delicious discoveries. And when I do, I'll make sure to share them with you :)

In the meantime, enjoy your long Halloween weekend! 

And in the midst of crazy costume preparations, let's not forget the real reason for the holidays - and that's to remember and pray for our loves ones who have gone before us. May they continue to rest in peace.

Mochi Mochi!

Dessert world has just been shaken. Well, at least my dessert world. If you think about it, putting mochi and ice cream together doesn't really seem too far fetched. I mean, mochi is already a popular topping on yogurt and it was my love for yogurt that actually got me acquainted with the goodness of mochi. Ice cream has obviously always been a dessert staple. 

And so the innovation of Mochiko's mochi-covered ice cream was such a brilliant, natural combination that any dessert lover has to try.

Mochiko - P40 each

One delicious scoop of ice cream from FIC plus a soft, chewy layer of mochi surrounding it are the two ingredients that make Mochiko so addicting. I like the fact that the dessert experience begins with a short wait. When you buy your mochi ice cream, the packaging would remind you that "Good things come to those who wait. Please wait a few minutes or when the mochi is soft to the touch before biting into it." Beyond the taste, it also teaches us an important life lesson. :)

I was too excited to give it a taste that every 5 seconds I would give the mochi a little pinch to see if it was soft enough. And once I knew it was ready, I bit into the chewy layer of mochi and I was instantly in mochi heaven. The mochi layer felt like palitaw, and it wasn't too sweet to overpower the flavor of the ice cream.

I got to try two of their bestselling flavors - Azuki, with red bean ice cream, and Black Sesame. Both ice cream flavors were good, but I liked Azuki better. It was just the right amount of sweetness with real bits of red beans to give it extra texture. 

Azuki

Whether as a nice dessert to cap off any meal, or even as a quick snack, Mochiko is perfect for anyone who loves a sweet treat. I won't be surprised if in a few months, new brands of mochi ice cream would spring up all over the city. A little bit of healthy competition wouldn't hurt. I'm excited to see what other mochi innovations Filipinos can make happen.

Mochiko is located in Eastwood Mall, right in front of Italianni's restaurant

THE GOURMANDE'S SCORE: 5 out of 5 - A sweet, innovative treat for dessert lovers