Ice cream as a cooling system
Summer has finally arrived in Nice, and with it, an ever-constant layer of sweat. I pride myself on an ability to withstand triple digits, coming from a region where we measure a summer’s intensity in consecutive days over 100 degrees. However, the combination of intense humidity and lack of air-conditioning has left me constantly, irreversibly hot and sweaty. Luckily, Fenocchio is on my way home from the beach and work: the perfect place to cool down after nearly melting away!
Fleur d’oranger/ Orange Flower: Very, very, very light. So light that there’s not much of a flavor. While it was cold, that was its only redeeming quality for me. Very mild and refreshing, but not one I’d get again.
Calisson: These traditional French candies are definitely one of those love-it-or-hate-it kind of things. It’s a paste of candied fruit, generally melons or oranges, and ground almonds with a thin layer of white icing on top. The texture is similar to marzipan, but with a fruitier flavor. My parents hate them, but I like them in small quantities. However, the ice cream didn’t do much for me. It was a weird melon and almond hybrid that didn’t translate well.
Fraise/Strawberry: Strawberry ice cream has never been my favorite–the artificial strawberry flavor is usually too sweet for my taste, and lacks little resemblance to the fresh, plump red fruit that I love eating fresh. However, this strawberry sorbet was delightfully true to its origins. I think it’d be perfect with a fresh vanilla or yogurt flavor.
Bounty Bar: From what I can gather, a Bounty Bar is similar to an American Almond Joy, minus the almonds: chocolate and coconut. While I love chocolate-coconut combinations, I wasn’t a fan of this ice cream. The coconut texture was just far too grainy, completely ruining the taste.
Madarine/ Mandarin: I love mandarins and other citrus flavors, and this ice cream didn’t disappoint. It was a very strong mandarin flavor, so it’s not for the faint of heart. However, its tanginess was perfect for a hot summer day.
Lychee: I’ve been on a bit of an Asian fruit kick after discovering the Asian grocery story down the street from me, and lychees have shot to the top as one of my favorites. When a friend recommended the lychee sorbet to me, I was a bit skeptical as to how the refreshing but strangely-textured fruit would translate into ice cream. I was pleasantly surprised with one of the best flavors I’ve tried so far–if you haven’t tried lychees yet, try them. And if you haven’t tried lychee ice cream yet, find it.
Flavors tried: 23
Flavors left to try: 70
