Cool Off

This heat wave has seriously taken its toll on us. While summer is all about enjoying the great outdoors, we turn out to be heliophobic instead – too anxious to face the blazing sun and get burned to a crisp. We perspire a lot that results to dehydration and oftentimes, we become irritable...so much for a negative effect! Blame it on El Niño!

So, beat the heat with these summer coolers that’ll surely minimize the hot spell. I’ve asked a few of my pals for their recommendations, actually. I’m throwing you a party, so sit back and chill.

1. Gelato. This Italian ice cream is all the rave. You want proof? If you happen to be in SM City Cebu or in Ayala’s The Terraces, swing by Gelatissimo and the long line says it all. This foreign invention, that comes with a wide selection of flavors, is something that complements the sweet tooth. Compared to the regular ice cream that we’re accustomed to, gelatos have quirky flavors such as bubble gum, lemon, hazelnut, blood orange, rum raisin, cinnamon – all translated to Italian. Above all, this frozen dairy dessert is generally healthier than regular ice cream since it has lesser sugar content, so you devour a scoop without the guilt.

2. Ice Cream. Staple during parties. Good news is, your old-time favorite now has tons of new variants specially that of Selecta that not only tastes delicioso but sounds appetizing, as well: Butterscotch, Coffee Crumble, Crinkles (as in Choco Crinkles!), Choco Almond Fudge, Pistachio, and the list goes on. So, ditch the classic flavors and shift to the new wave concoctions. Haagen-Dazs, which is also known to have a long-list of mouthwatering choices, aside from donning a new look, has whipped yet another ice cream innovation, aptly called Five with ingredients: skim milk, cream, sugar, egg yolks and natural flavoring. Check this out! Lastly, how can I miss out on Mamang Sorbetero’s homemade ice cream? Until now, I’m still puzzled why they call it with funny names such as dirty ice cream or “tiling-tiling”. In fact, it can be simply called “homemade ice cream.” Compared to the aforementioned commercial ice creams, homemade ice cream only costs P5 per cone/plastic cups – ideal for the budget-concious. 

3. Ice Candy. This is that frozen fruit juice/fruit shake in ice bags you used to snack on or sip during your childhood years. If ice candy is no longer available in your friendly neighborhood, then why not make some for yourself and for the gang? Here’s how: In a pitcher, mix all the ingredients (milk, mashed fruits, sugar, nuts – optional, water). With the use of a funnel, pour the mixture unto the ice bags and chill.    

4. Guinumis. I was introduced to this “very Filipino” dessert two years ago while dining at Café Laguna and from then on, it has become a favorite delight. This cooler contains gulaman (gelatin), toasted pinipig (rice crispies), gata (coconut milk), coconut flesh and crushed ice. You should try this.  

5. Tapioca Pearls & Jellies a.k.a. Sago’t Gulaman. Goldilocks and other restaurants even have this in their menu since it’s a Filipino all-time favorite refreshment. No doubt about it. AA’s BBQ offers Black Gulaman that diners simply have a weird craving for.

6. Fruit Shakes and Juices. Fruita’s and Thirsty have most likely captured the discriminating palate of Cebuanos for they’ve been in the market for a couple of years now. Fruit smoothies definitely have made the cut! Aside from their healthy benefits, they are probably the most refreshing drinks. I highly recommend Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s Malibu Dream, though — fresh strawberry and banana, and French Deluxe vanilla blended with ice – for an afternoon tete a tete. On Sundays, bring out the blender/juicer and get the family members to concoct an interesting mix of fruits for dessert. Perhaps you recreate Lemongrass’ Citrus & Herb Lemonade or The Coriander’s Limau Juice – fresh organic juice made from three kinds of lemon. Simply give in to your whims.    

7. Frozen Yogurt is definitely an alternative to ice cream. The health-conscious basically nibble on yogurt to avoid the fats in ice cream, although it’s a little tarty. In Cebu, Yogu, a quaint yogurt place, is packed with yuppies most of the time alongside SM City Cebu’s Frizberry Yogurt. This is just an indication on how Cebuanos embrace the healthy benefits of yogurt, aside from enjoying the festive mix of toppings in each cup.

8. For the coffee lovers, a colleague recommends Cappuccino Shake that his sister personally prepares for him before hitting the road. This creation is a mix of Milo + instant coffee + condensed milk – stirred in cold water. Then, voila! So, instead of spending big bucks in coffee shops, why not a homemade Cappuccino Shake?  

9. Last but definitely not the least is Halo-Halo, a mixture of fruits, shaved ice, beans and milk. Razon’s simple yet tasteful take on halo-halo is the topic of another article – and I couldn’t agree more! It’s deserving of a two-thumbs-up-rate! Cool Savers, on the other hand, is the much-talked about local halo-halo joint in the city of Talisay. Since it was tremendously supported by the Talisaynons from the moment it went full swing, the owners decided to open more outlets to address the clamor. Yet if Talisay is too far for you, cool down in Ice Castles or Chowking, instead, and you’ll never go wrong. ?