Wednesday, January 30, 2013

320 Below Nitro Cream Cafe @ Mackenzie Road

I was chatting with a friend over instant messenger the other day and she asked if making ice cream using liquid nitrogen is popular in Singapore. I thought for a while. I have only see them made at the Singapore Science Centre during the annual Science Week.

Are there such an ice cream place in Singapore? I search online using my favourite search engine and found 2 places in Singapore.  One was a kiosk operator and have it for special order, the other is 320 Below Nitro Cream Cafe at Mackenzie Road.

How interesting. The geek in me thought I must go see it in action. I was picturing mad scientists in white mixing liquid nitrogen into milk and flavourings. The ice cream person in me was craving for some ice cream, so I asked the wife if she's game to try some.

320 Below Nitro Cream Cafe @ Mackenzie Road

We are working in different parts of Singapore and thought taking the MRT would be the best option since we found that it's just beside Little India Station. Take Exit A and you would see this place.

320 Below Nitro Cream Cafe @ Mackenzie Road

A very 'kiddy place', but welcoming. First thing you see won't be the menu, but the 4 Kithen Aid mixers! Can't make it too obvious that I just want to see how the ice cream was made.

The other wall is full of paper cups filled with cute drawings.

320 Below Nitro Cream Cafe @ Mackenzie Road

Here's a zoom in of the menu that's from the top photo. It says introductory prices for a limited period. I am not sure until when though.

It took both KopiKosongGirl and I a full 5 minutes to select the flavours that each of us want. Don't worry. The guys at the counter are too too busy, they won't bother you to hurry up. ;-)

I chose Salted Caramel and KopiKosongGirl chose Peanut Butter.

The ice cream lady finally had a pause after finishing other orders and she took our orders.

(Techies out there,  they are using iPad for the cash register here. Just like a few other new establishments like Carpenter and Cook)

320 Below Nitro Cream Cafe @ Mackenzie Road

I asked the lady if I could take photos, she said sure, but if I want her face, it's in the newspapers. She said something like that. Shhh... I was just interested to take the machines, but I did not say that to her.


Earlier when I placed my order, I said I wanted Salted Caramel. The lady taking my order suggested I had it with honeycomb. It's a great combi she said.  I said sure. It does sound good!

For Peanut Butter, her partner which is the other guy also busy with the other 2 machines, said Oreo goes well with Peanut Butter. Again, we said: Sure, why not?

320 Below Nitro Cream Cafe @ Mackenzie Road

We were sitting down waiting for our orders and enjoyed looking at how they make ice cream in front of us. They have containers of probably cream and other stuff already weighted in metal measuring cups. When they are making our ice cream, they mix the pre-measured stuff in, added whatever flavours we want in, measured some fresh milk and added it into the KitchenAid Mixing Bowl.

They turn on the mixer and then turn on the tap for liquid nitrogen to flow into the mixing bowl. A few seconds of it and the whole place fills up with smoke-like cold mist.

Quite clever of them to have changing lights!

320 Below Nitro Cream Cafe @ Mackenzie Road

After a while, the ice cream is ready! They then had to scrap the ice cream out from the metal bowls. It looks like hard work! They seem quite busy and they must be quite tired with all the scraping and washing of the mixing bowls!

320 Below Nitro Cream Cafe @ Mackenzie Road

The other two mixing bowls. I wonder why KitchenAid and not Bosch or Kenwood. (I am a fan of Bosch and Kenwood haha)

Probably of the colours of KitchenAid mixers?

320 Below Nitro Cream Cafe @ Mackenzie Road

Here's my Salted Caramel with Honeycomb.

The ice cream was quite smooth and creamy. It has a nice feel in the mouth, no big crystals and definitely not icy feel. They got the chemistry right and the ice cream taste good in your mouth. The honeycomb gave it a nice sweet crunch. Good recommendation!

320 Below Nitro Cream Cafe @ Mackenzie Road

This was KopiKosongGirl's Peanut Butter with Oreos.
As KKG is a peanut butter fan, we recognised the peanut butter brand they used. We saw the bottle and the cap and recognise it even thought they have rip off the labels. It's the smooth version of it.

The texture is nice, but not as smooth as the salted caramel I had. It's still quite good. Sweet and a bit salty, it's a nice mix too. A good combination too. The other suggestion was I think tequila with peanut butter.

320 Below Nitro Cream Cafe @ Mackenzie Road

Some interesting things that you can read while you are waiting for your ice cream.

320 Below Nitro Cream Cafe @ Mackenzie Road

We thought for $4.50, it's a good price. Most ice cream shops sells it for the same price or more. This is freshly made too. So if you are a ice cream person or some scientist wanna be, this is a nice place to have some ice cream and see the 'science experiment' in action.

I won't say their ice cream is superior to other shops. Ice cream make the old fashion way can be much better if made correctly. I make ice cream at home, so I know that ice cream do need some curing time in the freezer to taste richer.  It all depends on your ingredients, skills and practice.

This is a fun way of having your ice cream. The taste is good and price is quite fair. I will go back again though. The 'fun' factor is there. I want to try their sorbet and frozen yoghurts.

Now, I feel like getting liquid nitrogen at home to make this. If I do, my ice cream machine at home will be in hibernation mode for some time. LOL.


320 Below Nitro Cream Cafe
33 Mackenzie Road
#01-01
Singapore 228686




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3 comments:

Damien.L said...

you can do it at home by using dried ice..

Unknown said...

That's an idea, just dunno will it spoil my mixer at home ;-)

Singapore wedding photographer said...

I hope they are careful with the nitrogen. A lump of that would destroy your instestines in a second. A few cases have been when nitrogen is used in drinks.

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