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For kids and grown-ups still in touch with their inner tykes, nothing inspires toothy grins and wild applause more than ice cream. Lucky for those die-hard dessert fiends, their favorite feel-good food is now front and center at The Ice Cream Bar on Joya at Rockwell.

Serving gourmet Fruits in Ice Cream, or FIC, flavors in a perky, modern setting designed by architect Justin Jarasa, The Ice Cream Bar is fast becoming a must-visit sweet spot for Rockwell residents. “The people who come here appreciate the premium quality of FIC. We felt that it would be ideal for us to launch our first concept store here, especially now that the residential community is growing as well,” shares Yoli Celdran, one of the partners.

According to Yoli, The Ice Cream Bar, with its red Philippe Starck La Boheme stools and loft-like look, is perfect for those who live nearby and want a late-night dessert or those who want to linger after a movie with their favorite sundaes.

The Ice Cream Bar’s extra-luscious banana splits, sky-high parfaits, and creamy malted milkshakes make it hard for anyone to put the dessert spoon down, and that can only be a good thing. When I swung by to do my, well, research, I was faced with a series of tough questions. What the heck do I order: a chocolatey concoction, something with fresh fruit, or one that’s pleasantly leftfield? I did what any self-respecting foodie would do; I went by my gut — quite literally — and ordered all three.

That sage decision resulted in a pleasant parade of tasty treats. As a card-carrying chocoholic, I started off with their Grasshopper Mint Chip, loaded with top-shelf pistachio, chocomint, and Double Dutch ice cream. Whipped cream and chocolate vermicelli up the decadence and serve as final flourishes. Since I, too, am a long-standing fan of FIC’s Raspberry Rapture, I continued my belly expansion with Berry Ballistic (P270) — strawberry, raspberry (natch) and cranberry ice cream parceled with blueberry and strawberry filling and peach wedges.

Calorie-counting connoisseurs, meanwhile, should try their Soft Serve Frozen Yogurt (P120), which has the creamy mouth feel of ice cream and the benefits of real-deal yogurt fresh from a cattle farm south of Manila. “We also recognize that people are health-conscious so we developed our frozen yogurt, which has been well-received,” says co-owner Joanna Francisco. You can mash up the fro-yo’s welcome tartness with a variety of toppings, from granola and streusel to butterscotch sauce and apple preserve. The fact that this special dessert is 95 percent fat-free is belated good news.

Aside from doing magic tricks with ice cream, this new-generation soda fountain also has a snack menu. The Ice Cream Bar collaborated with top pastry chef Jill Sandique to dish up can’t-go-wrong classics, among them Chili Franks (P185) and yummy Adobo Pan de Sal with Cream Cheese (P145). A filling pre- or post-dessert meal, their basil and kesong puti pasta (P195) updates the classic pesto recipe with marinated kesong puti cubes and a chiffonade of basil.  

“We wanted to create a welcoming place where people can enjoy FIC and have good quality comfort food to go with it in a cool, well-designed location,” continues Joanna. “We’re proud that FIC is the only Pinoy brand that has met international standards. It’s the only Philippine-made ice cream legitimately exported and accepted by the Ministry of Health in Japan.”

As the exuberance of summer takes over, it might be time to put our taste buds on the line and venture out to see what’s in store for people seeking flavor-filled adventures within city limits. The solution to this urban keep-cool challenge? It can only be The Ice Cream Bar.

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The Ice Cream Bar (Flavors by FIC) is located at the Joya Tower at Rockwell Center beside Power Plant Mall. Store hours are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.  For inquiries, e-mail theicecreambar@yahoo.com.