If you’ve mourned the absence of the softy ice cream from Kolkata’s gastro-scape in the last few years — fret no more! Ice-O-Metry, the Ballygunge dessert joint solely dedicated to revamped softys, has to be the next stop in your food trail. The cozy 8-seater joint opened up shop in Sarat Bose Road last October, though Ice-O-Metry’s first outlet opened in June at Inox, South City.
The raging favourite of any ‘90s kid, the wafer cone topped with swirls of sweet vanilla ice cream was the go-to treat for most. Now we have Ice-O-Metry offering an international spin on your childhood favourite. We’re talking organic, low-calorie, fusion flavoured softys, which is without a doubt healthier than that tub of ice cream in your fridge.
Besides the element of nostalgia, Ice-O-Metry aspires to curate the softy for the ever-curious millennial taste buds, and to cater to the experimental foodie. “You already have ice creams and people who love ice creams. But you also have people who love softys but are not getting it. I think food is really driven by impulse, and I wanted to give a spin to what people are looking for,” Ice-O-Metry owner, Nitya Bangur, tells us.
Ice-O-Metry has hit the right note, and not just in throwback value. It is also the first independent outlet selling alcohol-infused softys which is quite a crowd-puller. “Our menu cards don't have the flavours listed, but instead tells you about the quirky formats in which you can enjoy your softys in. You can have your softy in snow cones, or the Tipsy Cups, or our customized coloured cones. You can always experiment with our flavours,” adds Bangur.
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She also tells us that she keeps changing the menu every few days, so as to break the monotony. There’s a board which lists the day’s specials. When we dropped in on a random Tuesday afternoon, the specials were Sangria, Jack Daniels and Mint flavoured softys.
“Millennials are always seeking out low-carb experimental grubs. Our creations are low in sugar and with less calories, and are all-natural. They are also fresher than most ice creams, in terms of ingredients, as we are not using any cream or stabilizers. We use condensed milk, we make our own cones, all our colours are organic. We also don't use any eggs. So, it's really the healthiest dessert," Nitya informs us.
Our first pick was of course, the tequila-infused coffee softy, which packed quite a punch and snapped us out of our languid afternoon vibe. It has a fierce flavour, and an unbelievably smooth texture. The Sangria-infused softy was a total stunner. It was subtly fruity and our favourite — mainly because we wish everything would have some Sangria in it.
The signature creation would definitely be the charcoal softy, which is deliciously dark, and delectable, and has the most unusual taste. Courtesy, Ice-O-Metry’s secret recipe. Charcoal ice cream is also really hard to come by in the city, and for a good one you often need to get on a flight. Ice-O-Metry also serves fancier desserts like Snow Peak (which is a big improvement on a regular sundae), Candy Floss wrapped cones, waffle cups and Golden Leaf softy.
Price for two Rs 300 onwards