‘Stir fried Thai ice cream’ at Waseefa’s in Borrowdale

Rolled ice cream at Waseefa’s in Borrowdale

Charlotte Malakoff A Matter of Taste

IT was probably the offer of two for the price of one that led me to Waseefa’s to taste rolled ice cream, a new dessert craze that originated as street food in Bangkok in 2009. After rolled ice cream spread to ice cream parlours in Malaysia, Cambodia and the US, it was a matter of time before ice cream lovers were demanding ‘stir fried Thai ice cream’ in Jo’burg and Cape Town. And judging by the stream of takers at Waseefa’s on Easter Sunday, Treat Gourmet rolled ice cream is going down a treat in Harare.

Made freshly every day from milk, cream and sugar, the mixture is poured onto a sub-zero steel surface. Metal spatulas are used to chop fillings such as litchis, strawberries or almonds into the base, which is swirled around, expertly smoothed, and then cut into ice cream rolls. These are placed in a paper cup, and then the serious decorating begins. A crisp wafer, fresh strawberries, piped cream, flaked almonds, chocolate sprinkles or nuts are all possible – the flavours are yours to choose.

The two rolled ice cream artisans, Tendai, who grew up in Texas, and a Dwayne The Rock Johnson lookalike, both had a captive audience, as they chopped, blended, smoothed, rolled and decorated according to the tastes of customers ranging in age from eight to eighty. There was a brief lull at lunch time, but demand restarted once people had finished their burgers and chips.

George and I decided to have lunch before tasting the ice cream – chicken skewers and chips ($11) for George and a T bone steak, salad and chips ($14) for me. My T bone was thinly cut, rather fatty and pale and sad in appearance. It was served on a wooden platter, on top of a sheet of baking parchment, which gradually dissolved in the meat juices and salad dressing as I sliced through the steak. They say that everyone ‘eats a peck of dirt before they die’, so a few mouthfuls of paper wasn’t going to be a big deal. The chicken skewers were dry, so lunch wasn’t a huge success.

We decided to share a cup of Ferrero Rocher rolled ice cream for dessert. Decorated with whipped cream, strawberries and a wafer, it looked very appealing. Since Waseefa’s is known for its patisserie and fancy cakes, I also ordered a slice of Triple Chocolate Mousse cake ($5). Things have a way of working out. While I found the rolled ice cream too sweet and the texture strange, George loved it, and devoured it in double quick time. Conversely, the chocolate cake was light in texture yet rich, food of the gods and definitely too good to share.Cappuccinos were served hot, fragrant and delicious, and competitively priced at $2.

It probably wasn’t a good idea to order steak and chips at a patisserie, particularly one where people are lining up for the latest novelty in ice cream. It’s worth swinging by Waseefa’s just to watch Tendai and The Rock rolling ice cream, but my next visit is likely to be mid-morning, in time for coffee and a slice of that very special cake.

Waseefa’s Pastry Cafe
Sam Levy’s Village
Borrowdale
Mobile: 0777 005 738
Open Mon-Thursday: 08.00 – 18.00
Friday–Saturday: 08.00 – 20.00
Sunday: 0900-18.00
Comments to: cmalakoff@gmail.com