We all scream

James Brennan

• Last Updated: May 05. 2009 4:19PM UAE / May 5. 2009 12:19PM GMT

You’ve watched the mercury steadily rising. Your air conditioning has been cranked up a notch or two. And your weekend diary now looks surprisingly free of afternoons to be spent lazing in the park or strolling along the Corniche. It can only mean one thing – summer is here.

It might only be the beginning of May, but the days are already getting hotter and the prospect of a long stint indoors is getting closer. Much of the next few months will be spent in the blast of artificially cooled air – in your apartment and your office, in restaurants and in the mall. But what are you going to do when you’re caught in the stultifying temperatures outdoors, when you need something cold, smooth and preferably delicious to take the sting away from the humid city heat?

You’re going to have an ice cream, of course.

The UAE might have summers as extreme as Siberian winters, but one thing that’s never in short supply here is that cooling concoction of milk, cream, sugar, emulsifiers and ice – preferably with a bit of chopped fruit, chocolate or confectionery thrown in for good measure. Ice cream may not be the healthiest thing on the planet to keep you chilled on a blisteringly hot day, but boy does it hit the spot.

Whether you like it hard and crisp or soft and creamy, in a crunchy cone or straight out of the tub, plain and simple or drenched in sauces and toppings, there’s an ice cream out there to help you lick the heat and give your summertime blues the cold shoulder.

Which is why – sprinkled in hundreds and thousands and jammed between two crispy waffle wafers – we bring you a round-up of some of the best ice cream parlours that the UAE has to offer.

Baskin Robbins

When the brothers-in-law Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins opened their first ice cream franchise in Glendale, California, in 1948, they probably had no idea that they were creating the world’s largest ice cream operation. In those early days, they drew the blueprint for the ice cream store franchise as we know it today, but they surely couldn’t have dreamed that by 2009 there would be more than 6,000 outlets around the world, with 100 stores in the UAE alone. Now, in a move that makes the credit crunch sound like an ice cream topping, the local franchisee, Galadari Ice Cream Company, is planning to open another 40 outlets across the region this year. Despite the competition in the UAE, the appeal of the Baskin Robbins ice cream experience hasn’t diminished. As Irv Baskin put it: “We sell fun, not just ice cream”, and part of that fun comes in being able to taste each flavour before you buy. Indeed, Baskin Robbins invented the tiny pink plastic spoons that help you taste your way through a cornucopia of flavours, from the traditional vanilla and chocolate, to the rather more outlandish Love Potion No 31 and Rock ’n’ Pop Swirl. (Dh8 per scoop, Dh60 per litre.)

Basement Floor, Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi (02 681 2998); Khalidiya Mall, Level C (02 635 4231); Dubai Festival City (04 232 5644).

Cold Stone Creamery

Cold Stone Creamery was created by Donald Sutherland (no, not that one) and his wife, Susan, in Tempe, Arizona, in 1988. The concept is similar to the Marble Slab Creamery method (see below) of scooping the ice cream on to a block of frozen stone and mixing in the toppings, but Cold Stone doesn’t just serve up ice cream, it serves up “Creations”. Either you can opt for your own choice of flavours and toppings, or you can go with one of the Cold Stone Signature Creations. There’s Cheesecake Fantasy (with graham cracker pie crust, strawberries and blueberries), or perhaps Donald Sutherland’s preferred Founder’s Favourite (with sweet cream ice cream, pecans, brownie, fudge and caramel). But it doesn’t stop there – Cold Stone offers a whole range of goodies, from pies and cakes to smoothies and shakes. It’s easy to get carried away here, especially when Cold Stone’s promotional material shamelessly goads you on: “Who says you can’t eat this amazing ice cream for all three meals?” it asks. Your doctor, presumably. It may be hot out there, but there is such a thing as overdoing it. (Dh14 per scoop.)

Abu Dhabi Mall, Level 3 opposite cinema (02 645 5316); Dubai Festival City (04 232 9237); Dubai Mall (04 437 3200).

Flavours Ice Cream

There can be few places more stifling on a sweltering summer’s day than a traffic-choked Karama. Which is why this independent ice cream parlour in the thick of the manic Dubai district’s back streets is a real saviour when temperatures start to soar. Opened more than six years ago by an Indian businessman, Pravin Parekh, Flavours is an ice cream shop that caters to the seasonal whims of its customers. For example, during the cooler winter months there’s always the mirch magic (green chilli ice cream) to put a bit of fire in your belly. But since the summer is all about chilling out, you should try the special thandai flavour ice cream – a cooling mix of almonds, fennel seeds, cardamom, saffron and sweet milk that replicates the refreshing qualities of the popular Indian soft drink. The rose petal, blackcurrant and watermelon flavours will also cool you down, but look out for the fresh mango flavour – a special treat now that the Indian mango season is in full swing. With around 30 to 40 different flavours, the ice cream is freshly made every other day, it’s vegetarian-friendly, and it costs Dh6 per scoop and Dh45 per litre.

Ÿ Karama, opposite Al Madina Supermarket, Dubai, 04 397 8784.

Häagen-Dazs

Although Häagen-Dazs may sound like a traditional and sophisticated European ice cream, it is in fact an American brand created by two Polish immigrants in New York in 1961. The husband and wife Reuben and Rose Mattus gave their ice cream a Scandinavian sounding name to give it an exotic edge over its competitors, and the exercise in foreign branding worked a treat because Häagen-Dazs is now one of the most recognisable ice creams on the market. The brand has had a presence in the UAE since 1999, when it opened its first shop in Dubai’s Al Diyafah Street, and its stalls and cafes are a familiar sight in malls across the emirate. Typified by its dense texture, the ice cream uses egg yolks as its sole emulsifier and is relatively high in butterfat. Its simple ingredients are reflected prominently in a recent product launch called simply “five”. The all-natural ice cream contains just five ingredients – milk, cream, sugar and egg yolks plus a single flavouring, such as mint, coffee or vanilla beans – and is aimed at those who are looking for a simpler indulgence. For everybody else, there’s still a range of delicious summer life savers, such as chocolate chip cookie dough, butter pecan and vanilla honey bee to get you feeling human again – a little guilty, perhaps, but human nevertheless. (Dh12 per scoop, Dh35 per 500ml.)

Al Diyafah Street, Satwa, Dubai (04 345 1692); Palm Strip Mall, Jumeirah Road, Dubai (04 345 6100); Dubai Mall (04 339 9346).

Marble Slab Creamery

According to the people at Marble Slab Creamery, your experience begins the minute you step through the door and the homely aroma of their freshly baked waffle cones hits you. But on a scorching summer’s afternoon, when your mouth is as dry and spartan as the Empty Quarter, all you’ll be thinking about is a soft, cold scoop of ice cream to stop your trainers from melting. Once you’ve chosen a flavour, the ice cream – which is freshly made each day at the store – is scooped on to a frozen marble slab (hence the name) and blended with your choice of fruit, nut and sweet toppings (known as “mixins”) before being piled into a waffle cone. There are endless combinations to try, from peanut butter banana with Gummy Bears, to birthday cake flavour with Oreo cookies, but if you’re looking for something a little more substantial to get you through the day, we suggest the ice cream cakes and pies. (Dh10 per scoop, Dh45 per litre, cakes start at Dh80.)

Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi (02 681 8160), Ibn Battuta Mall (04 366 9967), Mall of the Emirates (04 341 1182), Dubai Festival City (04 232 9330), Sahara Centre, Sharjah (06 530 0588).

More Cafe Ice Cream

During the cooler months, More Cafe is the perfect spot for an al fresco lunch, a light salad or even a hearty doorstep sandwich. But come May, when the top blows off your thermometer, this cultured little cafe’s outdoor terrace becomes obsolete, and one’s attention turns to its rather special homemade ice cream. The people at More are justly proud of their attention to detail – the fact that they import their vanilla beans from Madagascar and Tahiti, and make their own cookies and caramel is certainly to be applauded – but you may be even more impressed by the price. The Funky Monkey (real banana ice cream with Oreo cookies and caramel) costs Dh22 for 473ml, and the Sugar Free Low Fat Mocha is Dh8 per 100ml.

Al Murooj Rotana, Dubai (04 343 3779); Garhoud, Dubai (04 283 0224); Gold & Diamond Park, Al Quoz, Dubai (04 323 4350).

Morelli’s Gelato

If style and luxury are as important to you as not collapsing through heat exhaustion, then Morelli’s Gelato is the ice cream for you. The self-proclaimed Rolls-Royce of premium ice cream has its flagship store in Harrods of London, and can now be found bringing the tone up in Dubai Mall as well as in Abu Dhabi’s Al Wadha and Khalidiya malls. Morelli’s secret gelato recipe is lighter and more refined than the heavier American style of ice cream, and its flavours for this summer are nothing if not simple, elegant classics. Choose between apple, watermelon, mango, banana, blueberry and pink grapefruit sorbet at Dh11 per scoop and Dh60 per litre.

Al Wadha Mall, Abu Dhabi (02 443 7161), Khalidiya Mall, Abu Dhabi (02 635 4698); Dubai Mall (04 339 9053).

Mövenpick

Some people think it’s merely a hotel chain. But those who appreciate fine ice cream will know that Mövenpick have been making some of the world’s best for almost half a century. The Swiss brand was originally founded to provide ice cream for fine-dining restaurants throughout Switzerland, but the appeal of its additive-free creations soon spread beyond the white table cloths to a wider international audience. The marque was taken over by Nestle in 2003, but none of the Mövenpick magic has been lost. After a brand relaunch in March, the ice cream looks a little funkier, but its classic flavours remain thankfully intact. Look out for the Cafe Espresso at this Bur Dubai branch of the hotel, where you can simmer down with some seriously elegant mango, strawberry, vanilla or blackberry ice cream. (Dh10 per scoop, Dh270 per five litres.)

Mövenpick Bur Dubai, Oud Metha, Dubai (04 04 336 6000).

Napoli Ice Cream

Napoli is the brainchild of Frederic-James Fitoussi, a Frenchman living in the UAE. Driven by a passion for natural artisanal Italian gelato ice cream, and with a little financial help from his French business partner, he set up this independent company three years ago and is operating with just a handful of stands in Dubai and a main shop in Sharjah’s Al Qasba centre. It’s a tough life, battling it out with corporate giants such as Baskin Robbins and Häagen-Dazs, but the lure of Napoli ice cream lies in its freshness. It’s made from scratch every day, with no artificial colourings and a minimum of preservatives, and it draws on a range of unique recipes and 120 different flavours. You can opt for one of 15 chocolate flavours (including Brazilian chocolate and chocolate orange) at Napoli’s outlets, but the company also produces a range of exotic flavours for local hotels, from pandan to Parmesan cheese. Try it, you might like it. (Dh12 per scoop, Dh85 per litre.)

Napoli’s main shop is at Al Qasba, Sharjah, and it has stalls in Al Jimi Mall in Al Ain, Dubai Festival City, Mall of the Emirates, Deira City Centre and Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai. Call 04 341 6330 for more details.

Swensen’s Ice Cream

One would hope the irony isn’t lost on those folk tucking into the ludicrously large Chocolate Earthquake (featuring eight scoops of chocolatey ice cream, rich toppings, chocolate fudge, mixed almonds, truffles, brownies and wafers) in the Swensen’s outlet at Dubai Healthcare City. Swensen’s is not exactly a place for those with diabetes or a weight problem, but if you’ve been really good and kept your calorie and cholesterol consumption down to a minimum over the winter, the odd summer indulgence here shouldn’t hurt too much. Besides quality and value for money, the third founding principle Earle Swensen applied when he opened his first shop in 1948 was quantity, and it looks like very little has changed since then. Sundaes are the order of the day here, and judging by the size of them they’ll last you well into Monday. (Dh7 per scoop, Dh26 per 650ml, Chocolate Earthquake Dh39.)

Khalidiya Mall, Level 2, Abu Dhabi (02 635 4288); Dubai Healthcare City (04 362 4929); Al Manar Mall, Ras al Khaimah (07 228 8838).