Ice Cream as Love Potion
Click here to see the Peninsula Manila’s new Ice Cream Menu.
I’m living proof of the sugary power that the Peninsula Manila’s Lobby has on couples. On our first date, I directed my Bin there after Dean St. Café (god, remember that place!) proved too crowded. I insisted that we order the Choco Loco and on his first bite, my Bin was hooked – both on the ice cream and on me. Hee hee. Ironically enough, after 11 years of marriage, we have yet to go back there but now is the time to make newer, sweeter memories.
The Peninsula Manila has unveiled its new dessert menu for The Lobby. A collaboration with Unilever Foodsolutions and Selecta ice cream, this trio’s tour de force has resulted in new ice cream concoctions that have been revitalized with demonstrable fluency and fervor.
Selecta’s ravishing roster of flavors is the malleable canvas on which Peninsula Executive Chef Adam Mathis and his team unleash their edible handiwork. Some of the new creations include The Nutty Pageboy (P300++), where scoops of super chocolate and vanilla bean ice cream are strewn with marshmallows and caramel sauce. For me, the pièce de résistance are the twin chocolate-coated crunch sticks whose chocolate hits are so intense one bite is akin to falling in love. Twice.
The Café Crumble Creation (P400++) is an icy alternative to getting one’s recommended daily dose of caffeine. Coffee Crumble and French vanilla ice cream are doused with chocolate sauce that’s been spiked with Kahlua. Garnished with whipped cream rosettes and whole coffee beans, it’s an intoxicating overlay of color and flavor.
Chef Adam says that he likes the Pinoy Paradise (P400++) the best. When he first arrived in Manila, the Peninsula asked me to write a press release about him. One of the things I remember from the interview was Chef Adam’s eagerness to try working with ube, a native rootcrop. Here, a large scoop of ube ice cream is in this fiesta along with uniquely Pinoy flavors ube macapuno, pistachio ‘n’ cashew, and quezo. To keep the tropical theme going, the whole lot is garnished with oven-baked pineapple rings and strands of macapuno. While trying the Pinoy Paradise, I couldn’t help but think that Francis M’s “Mga Kababayan Ko” rap song would be the appropriate soundtrack for it — a “songs to eat by” type of thing.
I say it’s impossible to be virtuous when it comes to ice cream but the Peninsula sure gives it a try. The Fruit n’ Yoghurt Coupe (P560++) consists of four yogurt ice cream flavors that are 97% fat free: wildberry, strawberry, mango, and passion fruit. To gild the dietary lily are granola clusters and peach or mango slices. I guess this concoction will only be “virtually” fat free if it’s shared with ten other diet-freaks and if the white chocolate decorative slice isn’t eaten.
Naturally, the old-timer ice cream creations are still here, cult classics that they are. The Halo Halo Harana (P400++, cover photo) for one, which the hotel serves 7,300 of every year. (!) The Choco Loco Brownie Sundae (P400++), my self-proclaimed love potion, is alive and kicking, and so are the Choose Your Scoop (P120++) and the Milkshakes (P280++). And of course, the godfather of all Peninsula Manila’s ice creams, the Pen Pals (P990++ — see menu photos below). A magnum opus of chilly proportions, the heaps of deliciousness in one bowl is stupefying bordering on the obscene: 19 scoops of ice cream serving six to eight ice cream maniacs.
The Lobby
The Peninsula Manila
Corner of Ayala and Makati Avenues, Makati
887.2888 / 810.3456
Ice Cream Menu
(images below Courtesy of The Peninsula Manila)
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all i can say is WOW. i’m going to drag my husband there soon! it’s hard to decide which one to go for, but the caramel sauce in the nutty pageboy makes me drool.
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Be still my heart.
Nice to see that Peninsula’s Halo-Halo is still as big as ever.
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I used to order the choco loco in the ’80′s. It was a saturday thing when we were in HS at ISM. I have to say, the Choco loco of today has changed from the one I remember. I miss the old version.
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i once saw a group of 6 people order two Pen Pals…. and they ate it all….how gross.
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My dad still swears by the Pen Lobby Halo halo. I like the pastries, and just pair it ala mode. No other hotel lobby compares, it’s sort of an encompassing environment that fits as comfortably as ever.
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penpals remains to be unbeatable… forever yummy!
of course, the price did increased. i guess it’s expected.
looking forward in trying the new ice cream specialties!
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Oh wow, look at those prices! At those levels, super premium ice cream made in their own kitchen should be expected, I think. But then again, it’s the Pen. But then again, it’s Selecta. I can’t quite reconcile the two…
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For an ice cream fanatic that was a yummy post lorie!! i had halo-halo harana and banana split hit last month. Yes… in 1 sitting! I couldn’t decide on which one to get so I got both. Hahaha! Shared it with a friend..but i ate most of it.
The Manila Pen in my opinion, has the best lobby in Manila. best place for a night cap. Ambiance, music and food all working together for a relaxing feeling…I know I can always rely on their desserts to perk me up.
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Those are really expensive ice cream… I hope they are using Haagen Dazs and not Selecta (??!) that would be a pity.
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I love the Pen Pals!! We used to order 2 of these for my family!
need to drag them there again.
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Haha, Dean St. Cafe! Hubby (then my boyfriend) and I used to have dinners there after classes. It was one of the “in” places to be seen back in the 80′s. We’d skip dessert there and have our ice cream fix at the Pen. Thanks, Lori, for the nice trip down (the Aquanet-sprayed) memory lane.
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I love Choco Loco! Seems to be the secret to lasting relationships. Hehe.:-)
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Dean St. Cafe! I used to always head over there for coffee-based desserts (Vienna Velvet) after a meal at Angelino’s — there’s another blast from the past! I miss the Angelizzas.
I like going to the Pen for their pastries. Their Napoleons are still the best in town and have been my mom’s fave for decades. But Michelle’s right — today’s Choco Loco is completely different from what it was in the ’80s. It used to be more like a rich, thick chocolate shake with chocolate bits. My family and friends all loved it and craved it often. I wish they’d bring it back, even if under a different name. Hint, hint, Pen!
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wow..everything looks sinful!
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