Local Flavor: Rolled ice cream and lobster rolls

Asian House, 113 Saco Ave., Old Orchard Beach is rolling out a new dessert item.

Starting today, the restaurant will be serving rolled ice cream. The restaurant recently acquired the equipment to make the frosty treat, and staff have been honing their skills in advance of introducing the menu item.

If you haven’t seen rolled ice cream being made, it’s a sight to behold. I got the chance to get a preview of the new menu item Thursday night, and watched staff member Paull Roonboon create a frozen dessert right before my eyes.

First, he chopped Oreo cookies into smithereens on a frozen surface. He then poured liquid vanilla ice cream base and mixed in the crumbled cookies. He laid out the mixture into a sheet and then sliced it into sections. Each section he gently pushed with a spatula, rolling it into a tube.

The tubes of ice cream were arranged in a bowl in a bouquet, topped with whipped cream and garnished with sprinkles, a whole Oreo and a rolled wafter cookie. I was lucky enough to sample this treat, and it was smooth and creamy – as delicious to eat as it was impressive to watch being made.

A frosty treat is rolled to perfection. PHOTO BY LIZ GOTTHELF

 

Making rolled ice cream takes some skill – it has to be chilled to just the right temperature and consistency. If it’s too soft it won’t roll at all, if it’s too hard it will be too brittle to roll properly.

Rossarin Penna, owner of Asian House, said rolled ice cream isn’t offered anywhere else in the area, and a lot of customers are excited to try it.

The rolled ice cream will be available with a chocolate, vanilla, Thai tea, or vegan coconut base. Mix-ins will include fruit, Oreos, chocolate or Nutella and there will be a variety of sauces and toppings to choose from. It will be offered as a summer menu item, said Penna.

Hannaford lobster rolls

Hannaford announced in a recent press release that the grocery store chain will sell fresh-made lobster rolls for $9.99 through Labor Day, Sept. 2.

The lobster rolls will be available in the grab and go section of the deli department. They will be prepared in-store daily and feature 5 oz. of North Atlantic lobster tossed with mayonnaise and breadcrumbs and placed on a bed of green leaf lettuce in a brioche hot dog bun, according to the press release.

Liz Gotthelf is the publisher of Saco Bay News. She also loves to eat – and support local businesses. If you have any local restaurant or food news, she’d love to hear from you. Send her an email at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.