Ice cream lovers won't be left out in the cold in Mid Valley, thanks to two new ice cream parlours that began heating up the mall this week; first up, we're checking out Malaysia's pioneering outpost of Korean soft-serve ice cream specialist Milkcow.
Milkcow at The Gardens Mall - near Cold Storage - is all about deliciously smooth, decadently dense but delicately mild-tasting ice cream, well-constructed with organic milk, wisely crowned with various toppings. Each cup costs between RM11 & RM13.
Gorgeous natural honeycomb steals the spotlight in Milkcow's showcase, reputedly sourced from local farms for freshness.
Begin with the basics: Ice cream partnered with thick 'honey chips' that are lightly sweet & not cloying in the least, featuring a comfortable, candy-like gummy-chewiness that pairs well with the ice cream's rich texture.
Ice cream with liquid honey is available too; at first brush, the smallish portions might seem expensive, but take the first bite - the ice cream is clearly not made with substandard ingredients. We really like it.
We were sceptical about the popcorn-flavoured macaron & almond toppings, but the macaron turned out to be a triumph too - winsomely fresh, well-balanced in flavour & finely tuned in texture. This is named Macao Dream on the menu for some reason.
Other combos include chocolate sauce with cocoa balls & organic sea salt, as well as organic cotton candy with jelly beans.
.Next up, exploring Malaysia's first Magnum cafe, already a major magnet for crowds near GSC's Mid Valley multiplex.
The lines are long outside the cafe, but no fear; it'll probably take only between 15 to 30 minutes to inch toward the counter. The hours-long wait only occurred on the first day, when folks were baited with free ice cream. It's more manageable now.
Magnum has two floors - the cinema-level space is for takeaway orders, but upstairs, patrons can also opt for sit-down meals.
The hook: Make Your Own Magnum. Choose an ice cream base (vanilla or chocolate), coated with milk, white or dark choc, then customise it further with a plethora of intriguing toppings. A novelty that has worked for Magnum in many cities worldwide.
RM9.90 for a basic serving. Potato crisps with pretzel pieces? Goji berries plus culinary rose petals? Sea salt & chilli flakes? Blackcurrant pastilles & dried mango? Chopped pistachios, crushed Oreos & marshmallows? Seemingly endless combos.
All in all, no surprises - as indulgent as expected, certainly crowd-pleasing. Nothing overly bold or punchy, flavour-wise.
Magnum hot chocolate & Magnum affogato (RM14) also have their virtues, expertly crafted for a pleasurable polish.
The Magnum dine-in section also offers a savoury selection that sounds tantalising on paper, but this brick-pressed & pan-fried Cornish chicken fell short, suffering from a frozen-meat feel. Save RM28 & skip this one.
Battered corn-on-the-cob slices with aged parmesan & chilli salt (RM15), a bit too bland to really recommend.
Almond-crusted fries (also not quite right in texture & lacking in taste), utterly mismatched with a Magnum chocolate dipping sauce (RM15). Based on these three savoury recipes, it might seem safer to stick solely to Magnum's satisfying desserts.
Milk Cow Malaysia @ The Gardens Mall, Mid Valley
LG K23, The Gardens Mall, Mid Valley City, Kuala Lumpur
Magnum Cafe Kuala Lumpur
Third Floor, Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur
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