As a self-confessed dessert junkie, the thought of ice cream smooshed between two cookies immediately appeals to me. I decided to indulge in the much spoken about Crumbs & Cream ice cream sandwich, a delectable sweet treat introduced to the Mother City by sisters Or and Shahar Peled.
The sisters first started serving up mouthfuls of happiness earlier this year from their eye-catching tuk-tuk stationed at the V&A Waterfront. Having grown in popularity, the ice cream sandwich now has a permanent home at their store in Sea Point.
Queueing along with the masses (I clearly wasn’t the only one out to make the most of a fairly warm Winter’s day), waiting my turn to order, the unmistakable smell of freshly baked cookies filled the air, further whetting the appetite. The store interior is inviting – littered with bright colours and even boasts two swing chairs, adding to the whimsical ambience.
Staff are welcoming and happily advise you on creating your own unique sandwich by choosing two cookies (they can be different) and an ice cream flavour, all neatly served in a brown paper bag, minimising spillage. There are loads of options and possible flavour combinations. Cookie choices are brownie, red velvet, choc chip, oreo, candy crush or rainbow. For those wanting to enjoy themselves guilt free, there are even banting and vegan cookies – all the result of hours of recipe testing and baked daily.
You can give your sandwich an extra pop of taste with an optional spread of Nutella, peanut butter or dulce de leche. The ice cream flavours include Italian gelato in the traditional mint choc chip, French vanilla, chocolate and Oreo. The more adventurous can go for blue choc chip, café latte, strawberry cheesecake, Ferrero Rocher or Turkish delight. Again, vegan as well as sugar-free variants are on offer, subject to availability. Lastly, (also optional) a sprinkle of mini marshmallows, mini smarties, crushed Oreos, sugared nuts or coconut ice can be added.
After much contemplation, I decided to go big and order a combo of one red velvet and one brownie cookie, Nutella spread, a scoop of Ferrero Rocher ice cream and a sugared-nut topping. The cookies were the perfect chewy texture, the ice cream rich and creamy, and the nut topping a definite winner.
Although the ice cream sandwich is the main attraction, gelato can be purchased by the scoop in a sugar cone or tub. Hot and cold beverages, cookies and brownies are are also available for take-away. Customers can now also pre-order ice cream sandwiches 24 hours in advance.
Just when you thought you can only indulge at the Sea Point Store and V&A Waterfront Tuk Tuk, there’s a pop-up cart a the Cape Quarter Lifestyle Village! It will be open until 15 August 2016. The more Crumbs & Cream stores there are, the better.
OF NOTE
WHEN Sundays to Thursday 11 am – 10 pm, Friday and Saturday 11 am – 11 pm
WHERE Store: 16 Regent Road, Sea Point, Tuk tuk: V&A Waterfront (between the Watershed and Two Oceans Aquarium)
COST R35 for ice cream sandwich, R5 for toppings and spreads
CONTACT +27 27815914974, [email protected], www.crumbsandcream.co.za
Photography courtesy Crumbs & Cream