Thai Ice Cream Rolls are Here!

I've seen videos and read articles about this fun ice cream treat called Thai Ice Cream Roll that is pretty manually intensive and results in long lines.  It looked fun, but I'm not big on waiting for food.

Then suddenly, I found out that not only is a source of this frozen confection opening up in nearby Allston, but there was an ice cream kiosk already open up north of me in the Square One Mall.  Now, I've never been to the Square One Mall, but for Thai Ice Cream Rolls, I was willing to... but my schedule did not allow...

So, instead, my first experience was at Hi B3ar, less than a week since it opened its doors.

We lucked out - by coming in the mid afternoon, there was but one party ahead of us, and after they were done, we had the counter all to ourselves for a bit.  We went blueberry and opted for the Evil Berry, which is much tastier than it sounds.  Each of 10 flavors is offered for $6.95 + tax, and all the toppings you should want on top.

If you aren't familiar with the Thai Ice Cream Roll, they basically take an ice cream base, pour it on a cold metal surface with your flavoring of choice (blueberries in our case), and the mix-master starts mixing and chopping it in.  Once it is good and ready, they start spreading it out thin, then scrape up rolls of it.  These rolls are carefully packed into a cup, and then are ready for the topping selection process.

Eat at Moyzilla for Jeremy

Admittedly, I don't go out for lunch that often.   And I surely do not visit the food trucks nearly as much as I would like.  But, I hope to stop by the Moyzilla food truck sometime between now and Tuesday the 2nd of August to order a Pineapple Chicken Teriyaki meal box with fried garlic aioli, currently called the Chiu-zilla meal box in honor of Jeremy Chiu - a member of the Moyzilla family who passed away recently.

According to the Moyzilla Facebook post:

"All the proceeds from the "Chiu-zilla" mealboxes (to get the full experience, ask for it with scallion rice and extra aioli, Jeremy wouldn't have it any other way) will go directly to Jeremy's family to help cover the cost of the funeral."

Now, if that isn't a good reason to go out for lunch, I don't know what is.

Reminiscing: Hoodsie Cup

 Ah, the Hoodsie cup, filled with chocolate and vanilla ice cream, eagerly gobbled up by children big and small.

I remember the short curvy tongue depressors that came individually wrapped in white paper, which are now sadly no longer included in the plastic sack encasing the double stack of paper cups of creamy brown and white. A plastic spoon just doesn't feel the same...

The Hoodsie was never something I would enjoy at home, as my parents tended to pick up a brick of neapolitan for such summertime treats.  Rather, the Hoodsie cup was the special prize of Color Day at the end of the academic year throughout my elementary career.

And so, when the Hoodsie cup made an appearance at the bbq I was at most recently, I of course had to have myself one.

Scooper Bowl 2016

The annual Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl is will be  here in about two weeks.  For a dollar discount off the $10 adult admission to the all-you-can-eat ice cream festival, text SUN to 56512!

Also, buy early and save!  Tickets bought in advance are $10 for adults, $5 for ages 3 – 9, while kids under 3 are free.  As of the day of the event, ticket prices go up to $15 for adults, $10 for ages 3 – 9, and kids under 3 are free.  If you want to go more than once, purchase a $20 Scooper Pass and attend the Scooper Bowl up to three times.

Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl

June 7 – 9, 2016

Noon – 8:00 p.m.

City Hall Plaza, Boston

Food Find: Noosa yogurt

As I exited the Haymarket T stop one Saturday, I was offered a sample.  It was a bright cheery 4 oz cup of yogurt - Noosa, advertised as all natural ingredients, gluten free, probiotic, rBGH free, aussie culture, Colorado fresh.

Lemon was the flavor of the day.  The yogurt similar in creamy density as Greek yogurt, but pre-sweetened. With honey, according to their website.  Yum.  It was good.

Later, I had the chance to try the strawberry rhubarb as well.  That was another good flavor.

Lunching at Whole Foods South End

Options abound at the new Whole Foods for take-out or dining in at one of a number of tables.

Salad bar and hot food bar are available for $8.99 per pound.  Me, I went for the Tonkotsu Ramen (ramen noodles, egg, wakame (seaweed), bean sprouts, corn, green onion, fried garlic and tonkotsu (pork) broth) $7.99 at the Noodle House and added the tempura shrimp option for a grand total of $9.99.  Sure the shrimp were small, but still the bowl somehow stretched out to two meals for me!

Tonkotsu Ramen with Shrimp Tempura $9.99

My friends hit up the Fish Shack.  The healthy yet tasty selection of the two was the Simple Grilled Salmon with brown rice and broccoli $9.99 which came with a generous piece of fish.  Yum!  Their fried seafood platter was nothing to shake a stick at either!

INK BLOCK Fisherman's Platter $19.99

Simple Grilled Salmon $9.99

Legal Sea Foods: Leap Year Lobster Special

AN EXTRA DAY, AN EXTRA LOBSTER

"With this year’s calendar featuring an extra day, we’re treating everyone to an extra lobster: our one-day promotion will offer two one-pound steamed lobsters and a choice of two sides for $29, available only on the 29th day of February.  For the other 365 days of the year, lobsters are only served individually, and the current market price of a one-pounder is $25.95.

The quadrennial promotion features a choice of two side dishes from the following list: French fries, onion strings, brown rice, broccoli & cheese, cole slaw, seaweed salad, jasmine rice, mashed potatoes, baked potato, and jalapeno cheddar polenta (selection may vary by restaurant)."