According to my feed, ice cream adopting the form of black sesame dim sum rolls are now "a thing".
"A thing", in this particular instance, refers to an inexplicably explosive gustatory trend that has been popularized by night market snack food as of late. I admit to attempting the likes of the cylindrical creation before: Teppan Ice Cream at Night It Up had presented me and a friend with flaky, frozen chunks of flavourless milk - how could I forget that?
When the trend came rolling back into this year's list of summer must-try items, feelings of sheer disgust and severe doubt resurfaced once again. But as with anyone and anything, food also deserves second chances. When an unmistakably Asian-sounding name popped up on the insauga page indicating a new spot to enjoy this sweet treat, I decided to check it out for the sake of being a good sport.
"A thing", in this particular instance, refers to an inexplicably explosive gustatory trend that has been popularized by night market snack food as of late. I admit to attempting the likes of the cylindrical creation before: Teppan Ice Cream at Night It Up had presented me and a friend with flaky, frozen chunks of flavourless milk - how could I forget that?
When the trend came rolling back into this year's list of summer must-try items, feelings of sheer disgust and severe doubt resurfaced once again. But as with anyone and anything, food also deserves second chances. When an unmistakably Asian-sounding name popped up on the insauga page indicating a new spot to enjoy this sweet treat, I decided to check it out for the sake of being a good sport.
"Wow Wow Yum Yum", eh? It ought to be breathtakingly amazing with a name like that, am I right?
Located just off the edge of the food court in Rockwood Mall, which, might I add, is really more of a rundown plaza than a proper shopping centre, this was the single stall with a lineup of over five people amidst the lunch rush.
Located just off the edge of the food court in Rockwood Mall, which, might I add, is really more of a rundown plaza than a proper shopping centre, this was the single stall with a lineup of over five people amidst the lunch rush.
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The menu was quite extensive, though very poorly displayed and difficult to understand. A never-ending list of ingredients, toppings, and prices were scribbled onto dark grey slates - two of which were hung just above the cold ice cream plates, and one large one on the wall behind various types of kitchen equipment.
Between the options of caramel popcorn, soft serve ice cream, Pinoy waffles, hot dogs, egg waffles, and "Thai Rolled Ice Cream", I could hardly make sense of which ingredients/toppings/prices were associated with each item or item combo.
Between the options of caramel popcorn, soft serve ice cream, Pinoy waffles, hot dogs, egg waffles, and "Thai Rolled Ice Cream", I could hardly make sense of which ingredients/toppings/prices were associated with each item or item combo.
Eventually I walked around to the cashier, away from the group of flabbergasted customers that had remained stationary despite my clear indications that I required a closer look at the tiny font on the menu boards hanging directly above their heads. Hypnotized the were, as they continued to ignore their duties as regular citizens and film portrait-oriented videos (cue the eye roll) of the staff member aggressively mixing ice cream formulas on the other side of the glass.
On the cashier side of the stall was a small dining area with a bar-like seating arrangement. The walls were lined with plastic figurines, an assortment of framed photos, and white cartoonized ice cream appliqués.
"Give me one second!" a stout, ponytail-donning lady called out to me in a strong East Asian accent. I nodded and smiled in reply, content with the fact that I had been acknowledged.
"There are four people ahead of you anyway." she added ten seconds later.
"Um, alright?" I thought, "I suppose she means that there's no point in ordering if I have to wait for my dessert anyway. However, she could have omitted that, as the wait time was pretty obvious given the amount of people I had spotted outside."
"Give me one second!" a stout, ponytail-donning lady called out to me in a strong East Asian accent. I nodded and smiled in reply, content with the fact that I had been acknowledged.
"There are four people ahead of you anyway." she added ten seconds later.
"Um, alright?" I thought, "I suppose she means that there's no point in ordering if I have to wait for my dessert anyway. However, she could have omitted that, as the wait time was pretty obvious given the amount of people I had spotted outside."
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She took her time make several trips from the front to the kitchen at the back, each time returning with a small measuring cup with a different hued formula in hand. These were set beside the guy expressionlessly mixing and smoothie the creamy emulsions on the cold plate after a brief exchange of dialect.
When she finally returned to the cashier to take my order, I took the opportunity to ask for menu clarification.
Her first response was "Did you look at the menu?!", to which I answered that I did but remained very much unclear about their pricing and flavour options.
I proceeded to inquire about egg waffles, soft serve, and rolled ice cream combos; with each question, she appeared increasingly more annoyed at me, despite the fact that there was not a single customer in line behind me.
When she finally returned to the cashier to take my order, I took the opportunity to ask for menu clarification.
Her first response was "Did you look at the menu?!", to which I answered that I did but remained very much unclear about their pricing and flavour options.
I proceeded to inquire about egg waffles, soft serve, and rolled ice cream combos; with each question, she appeared increasingly more annoyed at me, despite the fact that there was not a single customer in line behind me.
"One flavour is nine dollars. Two is ten!" she spat.
"I noticed that you have different options of egg waffle flavours - how are they priced?" I replied.
She insisted that she had just told me the answer, though, in fact, she had been talking about the rolled ice cream flavours.
"And how does the combo work?" I continued.
"With egg waffles? Do you want an egg waffle?!" she barked.
"Uhh, how much is it?"
"It says right there!" she pointed to extremely tiny writing reminiscent to exam cheat sheets only the creator could decipher.
"I noticed that you have different options of egg waffle flavours - how are they priced?" I replied.
She insisted that she had just told me the answer, though, in fact, she had been talking about the rolled ice cream flavours.
"And how does the combo work?" I continued.
"With egg waffles? Do you want an egg waffle?!" she barked.
"Uhh, how much is it?"
"It says right there!" she pointed to extremely tiny writing reminiscent to exam cheat sheets only the creator could decipher.
I squinted to begin locating the pricing information, just as she spoke again, "Do you want an egg waffle or not?! I need to start the machine because it takes time!" It took majority of my willpower to stop myself from returning the attitude in addition to a largely expressive eye roll.
Quite frankly, I couldn't comprehend why she couldn't have just asked me if I was alright with waiting an additional five minutes for the waffle. She had begun pouring the batter even before I had completed my wallet-destructive ten-dollar order of an Egg Waffle x Mango Rolled Ice Cream Combo. "This better be worth the drive and price" I muttered to myself.
"We don't accept credit under ten dollars before tax." was the follow-up phrase that I truly did not want to hear.
Quite frankly, I couldn't comprehend why she couldn't have just asked me if I was alright with waiting an additional five minutes for the waffle. She had begun pouring the batter even before I had completed my wallet-destructive ten-dollar order of an Egg Waffle x Mango Rolled Ice Cream Combo. "This better be worth the drive and price" I muttered to myself.
"We don't accept credit under ten dollars before tax." was the follow-up phrase that I truly did not want to hear.
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The lineup endured, and my egg waffle was left sitting out for a total of six minutes before the staff member in charge of ice cream even began to work on my order. "What was the rush?" I questioned the rude cashier lady in my head.
Each rolled ice cream order included one free topping (GASP. Did I hear that correctly?), though several specific toppings were additional charge. I opted for the safest choice: sweetened coconut flakes.
Each rolled ice cream order included one free topping (GASP. Did I hear that correctly?), though several specific toppings were additional charge. I opted for the safest choice: sweetened coconut flakes.
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Presentation was subpar in comparison to Wooffles. Instead of being neatly stacked in the cup, my last few rolls of ice cream had failed to maintain their shape and had simply been slapped on top of the other rolls. Portion-wise, this dessert would have likely been enough for two to share.
The egg waffle was spongy, soft, and reeked of a flour- and cornstarch-heavy batter. Its consistency was far from traditional Hong Kong egg waffles, and barely managed to graze Wooffles-level of crispy-crunchy goodness. I suppose it paired decently with their style of ice cream, but the batter itself had purposely been adjusted to be more filling.
The highlight of the dessert - the Mango Ice Cream Rolls - were significantly less icy than the ones I had tried last summer, thankfully so. Creamy and extremely smooth, I knew immediately that they had added a significant amount of stabilizers to the mixture. Perhaps regular ice cream-goers wouldn't think much of this, though I found the pairing of already-satiating, soggy waffles and uber milky ice cream to be a distasteful mess.
While I did appreciate the small bits of mango and the uniformity of flavour, there is no possible way to justify the price of this dessert. Seeing that even a single flavour of the rolls would cost a hefty $6.50 (and the double $7.50), chances of returning are beyond slim.
While I did appreciate the small bits of mango and the uniformity of flavour, there is no possible way to justify the price of this dessert. Seeing that even a single flavour of the rolls would cost a hefty $6.50 (and the double $7.50), chances of returning are beyond slim.
Wow Wow Yum Yum is an overpriced flop. I'll be taking my business to Wooffles & Cream for proper egg waffles, thoroughly flavourful soft serve ice cream, and exemplary customer service.
In other news, my Official GOT7 Lightstick arrived one month earlier than its anticipated delivery date!
In other news, my Official GOT7 Lightstick arrived one month earlier than its anticipated delivery date!
Attending both of their stunning shows at Kpop Con and witnessing the sea of ahgahse lightsticks immediately prompted me to purchase one of my own to wave around at their next appearance.
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In addition to a lovely, bird-shaped lightstick emitting vibrant bursts of green in three different patterns, my package also included a 9-piece photocard set of the group!
I'll be happily adding these to my constantly growing collection of GOT7 fan goods!
Pretty awesome am I right?! (Hehehehe)
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