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I’ve been hearing a lot about the Selecta Gold Series’ ice cream flavors and how these luscious confections are a true dream for chocolate and strawberry lovers. Crafted by three of Manila’s finest chefs (Rolando Laudico of Chef Laudico Bistro Filipino, Sau del Rosario of Chelsea Market and Cafe, and J Gamboa of Cirkulo) and made of nothing but the finest ingredients, these extra creamy ice cream flavors are one of the most luxurious offerings available in the local market. They’re even packaged like Hagen Dazs and other high-end ice cream brands but at only P170 for 800ml, you don’t have to go broke in order to experience these ice cold treats.

The Selecta Gold Series line is made out of three flavors – Chocolate Truffles, Berry Strawberry, and Hazelnut Brownie. Of all the three, Chocolate Truffles has been getting a lot of word-of-mouth buzz but after trying them all, I ended up having an unexpected favorite.

Created by Rolando Laudico, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, this creamy confection features bittersweet chocolate set against a milk chocolate base lashed with generous swirls of dark chocolate fudge. Chef Laudico was very determined to ensure rich texture and mouth feel that he actually insisted on importing gourmet chocolate from Belgium for this flavor. Because I can never get enough of chocolate in my desserts, this was the first flavor I tried in the Selecta Gold Series line. It certainly won’t disappoint chocolate lovers out there – it’s every bit as creamy and chocolatey as the box’s description promises. But after a scoop or two, it starts feeling a little too rich, too chocolate-y, and too heavy in the stomach.

Berry Strawberry was created by Chef J Gamboa, another Culinary Institute of America graduate and third generation restauranteur. By combining plump, sun-ripened strawberries with French vanilla ice cream, he injects a dose of refinement to freshen up an old favorite. This ice cream flavor pretty much tastes like regular strawberry ice cream – the only thing that differentiates it from the rest is that the strawberry chunks are bigger and chewier. I’m sure strawberry lovers would go crazy over this flavor, but I think this would have tasted better if it had other berries in it, like blueberries (I love blueberries).

Chef Sau del Rosario used his childhood love for brownies to create Hazelnut Brownie, a mouthwatering mixture of ground hazelnut paste and rich chocolate ice cream laden with moist fudge brownies. This was the last flavor I tried and I was surprised to find that I liked it more than Chocolate Truffles. It satisfies my craving for chocolate without overdoing it, and the inclusion of brownie bits gives it a fun texture.

The Selecta Gold Series ice cream flavors are available in all groceries, convenience stores, or wherever Selecta is sold.

Tags: ice cream, selecta gold series