Ah, DQ. It's my favourite ice cream place. Nothing beats the goodness that is served in a cup or…read morewaffle cone. Summer's just around the corner and every time it takes a toll on my sanity (because I hate the humid weather. It drives me nuts.) it's just one of the places that could restore my brain. I always order up their almond Blizzard because I love the nutty texture that is balanced off with the uber creamy sundae. I don't think any other ice cream place was able to beat or be at par with that mixture. I also love their banana split especially that strawberry bits in it. I haven't tried their ice cream cakes but hopefully, I do get to try even just a slice one of these days. I just hope they do serve them in slices so I won't have to ask a few people to share the whole cake with me.

Dairy Queen has always been my go-to place when I'm craving for ice cream. Delicious blizzard…read moreflavors and their ever growing list of selection, Dairy Queen has become one of the staple ice cream brand for Pinoys. Aside from their infamous blizzard ice cream, which is a blend of cream with chunks of chocolate and nuts, I am also a huge fan of their milkshakes. Although often ignored from their list, their milkshake is definitely a great refresher during a really bad and humid day.

When my dad found out that Baskin Robins finally opened, he rushed to the shop and ordered Cookie…read moreDough. Then, he made us all jealous and I finally had to find out for myself what the fuss was all about. I've decided that my dad likes their ice cream because it reminds him of the time he was in the States. It reminds my older cousins of when they used to troop to Megamall when Baskin Robins still had a branch there many years ago. Me? I think their ice cream is creamy and smooth. I love the fact that they have many flavors to choose from and you won't get fed up eating the same thing over and over again. In fact, you'll go crazy trying to choose what to have. Their ice cream is a bit expensive, but you don't eat ice cream every day. Splurge a little on Baskin Robins' ice cream.

A few friends of mine who visit the States raved about how good Baskin Robbins was when it came to…read morethe PH to open an actual 'ice cream parlour'. My mom likes to go walking in Bonifacio High Street where their first branch is and she said she's tried it years before so I convinced her to brave the long line with me when they first opened. Luckily it wasn't too bad of a wait because I think I asked to try about ten flavors before I could make up mind on what to get (yay for free tastes!!) I settled on Jamoca Almond Fudge (Coffee? Almonds? Chocolate? Check, check check!), Cotton Candy ('twas a bit too tart for my liking) and Love Potion #31 (I was soo surprised with how much I liked it! It had white chocolate, raspberry and chocolate chips) in a Fancy Waffle Cone. I got them in 'junior' scoops as well because I just wanted to try the different flavors and it was cheaper mehehe. Depending on your choice number of scoops and kind of cup/cone/waffle bowl, it can get a bit pricey but you're paying for the fun experience of building and eating your ultimate sundae so as a once-in-a-while treat, I think it's worth it.

I remember going to Baskin Robbins as a kid, and being determined to try all the flavors of ice…read morecream. Then they disappeared for a few years and I had to learn to live without Baskin Robbins. Now, they're back with a slightly new look but still the same feel! Other than sprinkling on a few toppings and taking a regular cup or cone, you can also choose to make a sundae or banana split out of your ice cream choices, a milkshake or even a whole ice cream cake with customized designs for a special occasion. :D Baskin Robbins gives out free tastes, so while you might be tempted to stick with the regular - mint chocolate chip, cookies and cream, really anything with chocolate - try out a few of their original concoctions. Love Potion #31 is a tasty mix of raspberry and white chocolate. For caramel lovers, the Hokey Pokey is pretty good and comes with crunchy honeycomb pieces. My mom loves their Jamoca Almond Fudge, but my all-time favorite is their pink, orange and white swirled Rainbow Sherbet (fruit sherbet mix)! :)

If you don't like ice cream, then I'm so sorry to inform you that we just can't be friends anymore…read more Just kidding! But seriously though, who doesn't like ice cream, especially if it's from Baskin Robbins? Baskin Robbins is what I consider to be my personal heaven. When I heard that they would bring back the biggest ice cream and frozen dessert franchise in the United States to the Philippines after almost ten years, I almost sh*t myself! When I pass by Baskin Robbins, I normally order their Very Berry Strawberry-flavored ice cream. This delectably delightful strawberry ice cream is loaded with real strawberry chunks and is served with a fresh-baked waffle cone that perfectly matches whatever flavor you decide to pair it with. Another one of my favorites is also their Caramel Chocolate Crunch. I am not really a huge fan of caramel because it's too sweet for me, but I would definitely make an exception for Baskin Robbins. This delicious treat is served with a caramel drizzle that makes everything even more scrumptious. With the increase of ice cream parlors here in the Philippines, Baskin Robbins is definitely one of the top contenders.

If asked to pick between Baskin Robbins and Coldstone Creamery, I'd have to say it would all depend…read moreon how you like your ice cream. If you like ice cream with a better mouthfeel and smooth, sweet, creamy goodness, go for Coldstone. If you prefer ice cream that's a little more on the heavier side with chunks and swirls, go for Baskin. So I suppose it's like asking how you like your peanut butter: smooth or chunky. BR is definitely the chunky peanut butter of the ice cream scoopery market. Is this a bad thing? No, not really. Again, it all depends on how you like your ice cream. Even the flavors that didn't have chunks in them (cotton candy, chocolate...) had a certain denseness to them. A good denseness. It kept the flavor rich and lingering in your mouth even after you swallow it down. And their flavors are great, too. Normally, I know exactly what I want within a couple of samples. I have to admit, I waffled between their Movie Theater Popcorn (Sweet and buttery -- like Kettle Corn... except colder), Praline and Cream, Caramel Praline Cheesecake and Caramel Truffle Turtle. (Seeing a pattern here yet?). Pity they didn't have the Cherries Jubillee. I would've had a harder time trying to decide. In the end, I went with the cheesecake. The cheesecake was mostly in the ice cream but man, whole pecans. That's something you don't regularly see. So the price is midrange, around the 150php price range with is usually expected for imported ice cream. They let you have as many samples as you want. There's even a "create your own sundae" thing. But there's a certain chaos to it when the crowds come in. You have people with huge parties who can't make up their minds and need to try every single flavor twice thus crowding up the counter... and people with kids. So, I'd recommend waiting for crowds to disperse before approaching. Thankfully that happens quickly. Staff works quick and knows how to multitask at least.

Back when I was living in Canada, my absolute favorite brand of ice cream was Baskin Robbins. When…read moreI moved to the Philippines, only one Baskin Robbins branch catered to the Manila ice cream lovers which was located inside the Shangrila Mall. Not long after, this branch also closed down. I was heart broken. More than 15 years after closing, Baskin Robbins is at it again trying its luck in the Philippine market. And no one is more excited than I am. While this ice cream joint is popular for their wide array of ice cream flavors, I only get one flavor when I order which is their Jamocha flavor. Creamy, coffee-like and with so many nuts! Makes me a happy kid every time. Thanks for bringing back my childhood memories Baskin Robbins!

Funny story: the first time I visited Cold Stone Creamery at Serendra one year ago I just thought…read moreit looked like a cool place to get ice cream. I had no clue about the acrobatic journey a scoop of ice cream has to go through before it lands in your cup. Imagine my confusion when one of the servers turned to me with a spadeful of Chocolate Devotion and yelled, "Catch!" Behind me, another server was holding out an ice cream cup like a baseball mitt, waiting to catch the ball. SPLAT! Missed. All my chocolate chips, fudge, and brownie lay before me like Humpty Dumpty. There was a moment of silence for the fallen scoop. (And shame, too, because the five-second rule crossed my mind.) The server apologized, picked the ice cream up, and cleaned the floor without a fuss. Then they made my ice cream all over again and handed it to me, this time, at arm's length over the counter. The staff was really humble and gracious about it. I told them not to worry. These things happen. Recently I noticed that the servers don't pitch the ice cream as often anymore. Now it's more of a gentle egg toss. "Catch your ice cream?" they offer. You can say no and let them give your ice cream the straightforward way. But if you say yes, they'll throw the ice cream AND the cup. Surprisingly, everybody's been able to catch it. Depending on your order, toppings can range from rainbow sprinkles to roasted almonds to graham cracker pie crust. My personal favorite, the Chocolate Devotion (P168), I would recommend to anybody who doesn't believe there's such a thing as going overboard with chocolate. With quality ice cream titles such as The Pie Who Loved Me and Berry Berry Berry Good, combined with fun-loving employees who can sing and dance and juggle ice cream--seriously, it's amazing how much energy they have--how can you go wrong here?

cheesecake fantasy & strawberry short cake (hold the whip, sub almonds) all day.read more

I've been craving for a decent milkshake for about 3 months already, and have been craving for soft…read moreserve ice cream for the past month. With so many friends posting photos of themselves at Rita's, it has been driving me nuts. Finally, I got to try Rita's for myself. My dad was skeptical this timewhen he saw people walking out of the store, as he was imagining having the typical Italian gelato. While in line, he got a bit excited seeing the available flavor options and combinations. I got a regular-sized gelati with banana split ice and a mix of chocolate and vanilla frozen custard. My Dad on the other hand got a regular sundae which had chocolate frozen custard, hot fudge and chopped peanut as toppings, then a heap or whipped cream, complete with cherry on top. In the end, it wasn't just me who was very happy to finally try Rita's ice and frozen custard. Even my Dad was surprised with the difference in taste and texture. Looking forward to trying their milkshake next!

At first, I thought Rita's was a fancier rehash of Dairy Queen, with a cute swirly topping of…read morevanilla over some crazy ice cream flavor, based on my Instagram feed. When I heard though that it was custard and shaved ice, I couldn't really grasp the concept. I thought it was weird, and a fad like bubble tea that would soon blow over. The concept took awhile to get my mind around, but there was no denying that what I got was a really refreshing dessert. If you're feeling thrifty, you can drop the custard and stick to the smooth ice that's actually pretty good on its own. There are loads of ices and custard flavors to choose from, but I prefer the simple lemon ice. One time I got the coffee custard, which was pretty yummy. I'm going to try their milkshakes when I can though, I heard the peanut butter flavor is amazing.

Thinking this was just another over-hyped US-franchised ice cream stores sprouting the Metro. Even…read morewhen my curiosity piqued with so many people lining up in their store in UP Town Center, I was too cynical to try. Good thing I was dead wrong. Trying Rita's for the first time in Greenhills last Saturday, made me realized that Rita's is not just one of those usual ice cream stores. Rita's Frozen Custard seems to elevate soft-served ice cream to a different level with its thick, smooth creamy texture with just a soft light sweetness that cannot be found elsewhere. Some of their treats we were able to try: 1. Premium Fudge Brownie Ala Mode (P180) - A heaven in a cup for chocolate and brownie lover like me. The combination of thick vanilla frozen custard with generous amount of brownie cubes (that were warmed before putting in the cup for that soft fudgy texture) and sweet chocolate fudge drizzle provides a perfect balance of sweet, creamy, fudgy texture and chocolate-y flavor. 2. Regular Halo-Halo Gelati (P150) - It is fun to consume, with Frozen Vanilla Custard on top and buttom layer and Italian Ice halo-halo in the middle with ube halaya, langka, macapuno strips & red beans. I like how the Italian ice feels like a very fine flavored snow, I would love it if it had more of the langka, macapuno and beans inside to break its texture. 3. Regular Ube Cheesecake Ice (P100) - Also a Filipino twist on a classic dessert, with ube halaya mixed in ube ice. 4. Regular Passion Fruit Misto Shake (P160) - Fruity yet creamy. You can really taste the Passion Fruit flavor in it with good balance of creaminess from the liquid Vanilla Custard. 5. Regular Watermelon Frozen Drink and Cantaloupe Frozen Drink (P120) - Their icy drinks are smooth, without big chunks of ice that you get in others, which made it more thirst-quenching. I bit usual as flavor is mainly from syrup but prefer the watermelon flavor. 6. Affogato (P185) - Really, really good! Their frozen Vanilla Custard blends well the fresh shot of espresso. I can really the buzz of their espresso after eating a few spoonful of it. A fun alternative for those who need to stay awake and alert. 7. Aside from the above ice cream and drink treat, they also offer ice cream cakes which they called "Frozen Custard Cakes". We were able to try their Mango Gelati Cake (Mango Italian Ice and Frozen Vanilla Custard topped with rainbow sprinkles) and Cookies & Cream Custard Cake (layer of cookies and cream Italian Ice and Frozen Vanilla Custard topped with Oreo pieces). But what's great about their Frozen Custard Cakes is you can customize it to your liking. You can choose from their different flavors of Italian Ice, Frozen Custard and Toppings to make the cake as unique as you. One whole cake cost only P 1350.00 including a nice box with reusable ice packs. You just need to order one day ahead. Looking forward to go back again to be able to try what other flavors and combinations they can come up with. As Rita's brings frozen dessert to a new dimension of its own, challenging the perceptions and surprising jaded palates of what an ice cream still could be.

So curiosity killed the cat one night, and I decided to find out why Rita's is always so crowded…read more Custard and ice. So, it's not really ice cream? Well, technically speaking, no. The custard (though it looks like ice cream) isn't as cold as a scoop of ice cream, and it tasted and felt more like mousse. It also didn't melt quickly even in the humid summer season. The flavored ice was the best part! It's somewhere between a sherbet and a shake, light and refreshing. It came in all sorts of flavors - cookie dough, cotton candy, blue raspberry, cherry, root beer, strawberry colada, and a whole lot more that I can't put down because they change the flavors every so often. There were several items on the menu and I didn't know what to choose from. The nice fellow at the counter said that Gelatinis were their best sellers, and it turns out those were the swirly twirl thingies that I saw everyone seated at the tables eating. Gelatinis are Rita's flavored ice sandwiched by two layers of frozen custard. I chose cookie dough ice and chocolate custard with extra gummi bear toppings. Funny thing about these toppings - they were at the bottom. I thought they actually forgot to put my gummi bears, but I found them when I got to the last custard layer at the bottom, hahaha! All in all, not bad for P130. I'd fall in line again, especially just to try out all the ice flavors! :)

One of my favorite go to ice cream places in the Philippines!…read more First off I always get their ice cream cake for my birthday. If you haven't tried it then you better try it NOW. Its the perfect combination of cute and sexy. For ice cream get founders favorite, but let's go crazy and instead of sweet cream I put salted caramel or dulce de leche!!!! And you're mind will literally be blown right when you take a bite. Definitely a great place with some of the best customer service. A must try!!

WUHOO! Thank you, Lord for finally getting Cold Stone here in the Philippines! It's been like a…read moredecade and it's finally here! I used to go to Cold Stone a lot in the States and it's really nostalgic for me. When they finally brought it here, I knew I had to go there immediately and see if they had the flavor and toppings I wanted. I have tried multiple flavors from them when I was in L.A. but there was only one that I really loved. I love their Banana Ice Cream with Sprinkles! It seems plain or boring but trust me, i ust feel like I'm eating a cup of magic when these two are put together! When word got out that there was a new creamery in town, people really flocked to Serendra. I would really see this place packed. Not only do they have loads of ice cream flavor to choose from, but they also had so much toppings to choose from too! They also put on a show every time. the staff would throw and catch scoops everywhere! They would also do tricks with their spatulas or scoopers (I don't know what to call them) and thew just keep throwing them in the air. It's just a really fun experience!