Get Your Waffle Fix

Ah the allure of the French rose! As the gentle floral notes blend in with the ubiquitous dark chocolate, COTTA’s 80% Dark Chocolate French Rose gelato (Single $5, Double $9, Premium +$1) was real fragrant and tantalizing. Not at all cloying, the scoop was both dark and luscious. A pleasant surprise, the distinct rose flavour also delivered a nice lift to the bittersweetness. The Sicilian Pistachio gelato was a little more predictable with its creaminess and flavour profile. Though it could certainly be more nutty and earthy in my opinion. The COTTA Waffle ($7), on the other hand, was a crisp number. Almost like a biscuit, the batter was really light and it stayed crunchy through the meal with the melted ice cream sitting atop. So ideal for those that prefer waffles that are of the thinner and well-baked variant.

Since I couldn’t get enough of their mochi waffle after my visit to their branch at Faber Driver, I went over to their Mohamed Sultan Road outlet in the same week. This time I had their Bronte Pistachio & Pink Himalayan Salt ($6/ Single - Gourmet) and Colombian Cold Brew & Cookie Butter Bits ($5/ Single - Premium). For the former, the delicate roast-y flavour of pistachio and touch of saltiness was surprisingly complementary but perhaps I am still more used to having the nuttiness without the savoury element. For the latter, the lack of a strong coffee roast aroma and consistency being a tad icy was a bit of a letdown but the flavour did grow on me as I ate more and paired well with the warm crisp-chewy waffle.

Earlier this month when sweater weather was still a thing, I travelled down to Faber Drive specifically for Gelatolabo’s Fresh Tokyo Mochi Waffle (+$6.60) and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Made with nippon flour and mochi, the waffle was perfectly crusted. Think crisp, golden brown exterior and slight-sticky soft interior - so satisfying! Loving that initial crunch which yields to a delightfully bouncy and chewy inside as you cut into it.

Of course, having been to their hole-in-a-wall store at Jalan Besar several times, I had to get flavours that I didn’t come across previously or those that I have yet to try such as the 38% Milk Chocolate & Cereal Nibs as well as the Del Monte Banana & Cacao Nibs ($8/ Double - Premium). Not conventional but still relatively safe, the 38% Milk Chocolate & Cereal Nibs had a fun play of textures with the crunch from the clusters of handmade cereal nibs and smooth ice cream. It wasn’t too sweet and would be ideal for milk-chocolate lovers. Similarly, the Del Monte Banana & Cacao Nibs delivered a crowd-pleasing combination with the intensity of the banana flavour and bittersweetness of the dark cacao bits - very well-balanced in both taste and textures. For those in need of an added dose of chocolate, the Valrhona Chocolate Sauce (+$1) was just the thing being luscious and rich.

Sweet ice cream waffle deals at Sweet Cheeks with Burpple 1-for-1!

Having the Sicilian Pistachio with Pistachio Bits ($5) and Biscoff Cookie Crunch ($4), I really enjoyed the smooth and creamy texture of the scoops. However, they were a tad sweet with the former being a little too milky in my opinion. Distinctive yet not overwhelming, the pistachio was pleasantly nutty but lacked the oomph as well as quintessential aroma I was expecting. One for cookie butter lovers, the Biscoff Cookie Crunch was more up my alley. Studded with crushed cookies, the caramelised flavour was rather prominent and went well with their waffle. A nice change from the denser variant, their waffles were fragrant, fluffy, and featured a really light crisp on all its edges. Oh and decked out in white walls with wooden flooring, arched hallways and minimalistic decor, the whole space at their Lavender outlet was also lovely and pretty spacious.

For solid ice cream flavours and light airy waffles, Apiary is still the place to be. Hence, my foolproof after-dinner treat consisted of their classic plain brown butter waffle ($6) and scoops of their premium flavour ($7/ double) - Apiary and Despicable.

A flavour that I didn’t quite like initially but had a change of heart recently after sampling some from my friend’s order, their namesake and best-seller, Apiary is really lovely. Great for those who enjoy something simple and not too sweet - the distinct taste of the wildflower honey with its gentle floral notes complementing the milky, slightly vanilla-y, creaminess of the ice cream. The bits of cacao nibs added some oomph too with the texture and bittersweetness.

The scoop of Despicable, on the other hand, was rather sweet. With toasted walnuts and chunks of house-made brownie folded into the smooth fresh banana ice cream, the flavour was fun and rich - thanks to baked confection. Paired perfectly together, the aromatic yet light batter of the waffle helps counter the sweetness of the ice cream, in my opinion.

A relatively new spot for gelato in the west, Burnt Cones’ selection might be a little on the safer side (as compared to the other newer gelato shops) but each crowd-pleasing flavour seemed to be a hit and well-executed.

Having paired their waffle ($6) which came with a choice of icing sugar and syrup, with their premium Pistachio and Strawberry Basil ice cream; I love the combination of the creamy rich nuttiness from the former as well as the refreshing tartness of the sorbet. The Pistachio was sufficiently fragrant, earthy, and not too sweet. Similarly, the Strawberry Basil had a great texture. The vibrant scoop had the right balance with a good dose of berries and herbaceous taste too. The waffle itself was crispy, a tad dense, and somewhat came off a tad dry in my opinion but worked well in mopping up the gelato - serving as a great after-meal treat.

A great spot for some after meal desserts, 100labs’ Oomph! Waffles were pretty darn good and got even sweeter with the 1-for-1 half-waffle #BurppleBeyond deal. Crisp along the edges and very fragrant, their variation of the buttermilk waffle is slightly denser than what I am used to but the firm texture held up really well when paired with their ice creams. Having the Mocha Biscotti and Dark Chocolate ice cream, I enjoyed the former more as it had a well-rounded sweetness and a distinct dose of mocha though coffee lovers might find it too mild. The Dark Chocolate on the other hand was a tad more intense with the bittersweetness but could afford to be richer in my opinion. The thick golden syrup drizzled alongside complemented the warm, buttery waffles as well.

And now back to our regular programming; Denzy Gelato’s Hojicha and Peanut Butter & Banana were soo good. Opted with their light and crispy waffle ($5), well-made with a fragrant airy batter; both flavours ($6.40/ double scoop, $3.60/ single scoop) were pretty intense yet well-balanced in terms of the sweetness level. The roasted green tea was pleasantly earthy, not overly milky and incredibly smooth. Similarly, the premium Peanut Butter & Banana (+$1) was creamy and decadent where you could get the distinct taste of the two ingredients blended perfectly together. To top it all off, Burpple Beyond's 1-for-1 deal made the treat even better!

While they have plenty of unique and exciting handcrafted flavours, Merely Ice Cream’s Roasted Pistachio as well as Oreo Milk were sublime and essentially foolproof. Infused with oreo bits and creamed cheese toppings, the Oreo Milk wasn’t too sweet or overly decadent. There was also a more pronounced chocolate-y taste than your average cookies and cream offerings which was most welcomed. The Roasted Pistachio too, had the crushed roasted nuts churned into the custard style ice-cream for that extra crunch. Thick, smooth, and creamy; the scoops do melt a tad fast but that is fine with the warm waffle to mop the pool up. Crispy on the outside and sufficiently fluffy on the inside, the waffle was pretty light. And adding to its fragrance, the drizzles of syrup were icing on the cake. What's more, at $13.70 for two double scoops and two waffles, I really scored a great deal thanks to Burpple Beyond.

Featuring yuzu front-and-center on their menu, Yuzutei is the place to be if you want to satisfy your craving for the citrus fruit. From Shabu Shabu sets to rice bowls, their yuzu-centric offerings are all pretty interesting but what better way to enjoy it than in the form of an ice cream.

Zeroing in on their Moffle with ice cream, there is a choice of classic flavours (Single $2.50/ Double $4) such as Vanilla, Chocolate and Cookies & Cream as well as Premium flavours (Single $3.50/ Double $6) such as Matcha Black Sesame and Peppery Kinoko Yuzu. But having only tried the Peppery Kinoko Yuzu and vanilla, I would certainly recommend skipping the classics and going big with a double scoop for the two premium flavours.

Chewy, warm and crisp on the edges, the Moffle had a great texture yet was pretty bland on its own. Thus taking on the taste of the ice cream, the subtle hit of pepper with the refreshingly fruity yuzu was simply awesome. Not too sweet, the azuki paste and light dust of kinako powder also added points to the dessert.

There's no better way to chase those nasty Monday blues away than with a solid stack of squared waffles and a scoop of Creamier’s handcrafted Earl Grey Lavender ice cream - all creamy and flowery with the distinct flavour of the classic tea melded together with light refreshing hints of lavender. And sweetening the package is the awesome one-for-one deal, thanks to Burpple Beyond!!!

Beat Monday blues with a small heap of huge strawberries and smooth chocolate sauce on a warm, fragrant Belgium waffle🍫