Orchard Central has welcomed a delightful addition to its varied food & beverage scene with the opening of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream’s first-ever outlet in Singapore. The Van Leeuwen ice cream parlour located on the ground level shares a space with the new outlet of Mr. Holmes Bakehouse in Orchard Central.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
Ben Van Leeuwen, Pete Van Leeuwen and Laura O’Neill started Van Leeuwen Ice Cream in a yellow truck on the streets of New York City. It soon became known for its artisanal approach to creating delectable French-style ice cream and is often affectionately referred to as VL Ice Cream. Van Leeuwen Ice Cream now has more than 50 shops in the United States of America and has just opened its first overseas outlet in Singapore.
Van Leeuwen and Mr. Holmes Bakehouse (both brands brought to Singapore by the Caerus Group) share a space on the ground level of Orchard Central – each occupying a distinct section and is connected by a narrow colourful archway. The main entrance of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream faces the Orchard Central mall atrium, while Mr. Holmes Bakehouse’s entrance faces the bustling Orchard Road.
The chic space of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Singapore has interesting design elements, including a holographic mirror wall. It can seat about 30.
VL Ice Cream offers milkshakes and classic ice cream and vegan ice cream in a cup or in a cone. A single scoop of ice cream is priced at $6.50, with addons for toppings. Among its popular flavours are the classic Vanilla Bean and the Vegan Salted Caramel.
Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream
As is fairly typical in ice cream parlours, Van Leeuwen lets customers taste small spoonfuls of various flavours before ordering. This can occasionally cause delays in the queue, but the benefits of such a practice are obvious.
There was a child in front of me while I was queuing at Van Leeuwen in Orchard Central. At the prompting her mother, she tried several flavours. The decisive child then opted for two scoops of Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream. Her mother and the friendly shop assistant reminded the child several times that she could have a mix of flavours – one scoop of Chocolate Fudge Brownie and a scoop of another flavour. She insisted on 2 scoops of Chocolate Fudge Brownie and had a big smile on her face as she watched the treats being handed over to her. I was next in line. Without hesitation, I opted for the Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream endorsed in the best possible way by a genuine customer.
The Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream was thick and chocolatey. It felt creamy and silky in the mouth. The rich chocolate taste with subtle sweetness was a real treat for the taste buds. The ice cream, skillfully crafted with quality ingredients, was very good.
Happiness is Healthiness
I like Van Leeuwen Ice Cream. I also like VL Ice Cream’s cool advice not to stress too much about eating healthy. They say “happiness is healthiness.” That is a good motto when I am in an ice cream parlour or a dessert shop.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Singapore
Orchard Central #01-19/20
181 Orchard Road
Singapore 238896
Opening hours:
Sun-Wed: 12 noon – 11m
Thur-Sat (Eve of PH): 12 noon -12 midnight
Mr. Holmes Bakehouse
Mr. Holmes Bakehouse, the popular San Francisco-based bakery, opens its newest location in Singapore in Orchard Central. Cruffins – a fusion of a croissant and muffin – made it famous in Singapore but it also has a good selection of buttery, flaky croissants and delectable pastries.
VL Ice Cream and Mr. Holmes Bakehouse in Orchard Central have the same interior design and have almost the same furniture. They blend together nicely, but you can still tell they are two different outlets. Mr. Holmes Bakehouse also has outdoor seating, perfect for the evenings or cool days.
Besides cruffins and pastries, Mr. Holmes Bakehouse in Orchard Central also offers sandwiches, soup and salad as well as hot and cold beverages.
Donut & Coffee
I ordered a Bubbly Passion Fruit Donut ($5.50) and a Flat White ($6).
It was a nice aromatic cup of coffee. The Bubbly Passion Fruit Donut was pretty good, even though I did not taste the bubbly fizz. The doughnut had a nice soft texture and was not too sweet. It was filled with a generous amount of creamy passion fruit curd. It was difficult to eat the doughnut without making a bit of a mess. Perhaps best avoided if you are on a first date and trying to give the impression that you are an elegant lady or gentleman. That aside, the Bubbly Passion Fruit Donut was a delightful dessert that left a lingering impression.
Mr. Holmes Bakehouse
Orchard Central #01-06
181 Orchard Road
Singapore 238896
The Ordinary Patrons | Real Dining Experience of Ordinary People
an independent Singapore food blog
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