Scream for ice cream at Novotel's 'Ice N Cream'

It's a sunny day and the most delicious ice cream can be found at Novotel's "Ice N Cream" store.

On April 28, "Ice N Cream" made its grand opening with members of the press and candidates of the Binibining Pilipinas 2017 beauty pageant.

"We invite you taste the best of both worlds but the best of everything. I hope you will enjoy our ice cream," said Novotel Executive Chef Michael Schaub, as he led the opening of the ice cream store.

"Ice N Cream" made its soft opening last April 16. Modesty aside, it's month-long target sales was reached in only three to four days.

"Our ice cream is home-made, gluten-free and less sugar. Some of our flavors are from Germany. It's actually a 'marriage' between Germany and the Philippines," said Michael Anthony Sagaran, marketing communications manager.

"What surprised us was that during our soft opening, our target sales for one month was reached in just three to four days," said Sagaran.

So far, Ice N Cream has 18 flavors to choose from. "But we're developing more and we will be coming up with a monthly flavor," Sagaran also said.

The latest frozen food in town is prepared by Novotel's culinary chef headed by Schaub.

Maria Garcia, resident manager, recalled how "Ice N Cream" came to be.

"It just came out of the blue. Actually the original design of this is a retail shop and we were targeting Rustan's. But later on, because of the proximity of Rustan's, we decided to do it in a different place. So during our executive meeting we said, 'why don't we just make it as an ice cream shop?' That's why we make sure our brand is unique. We don't use anything artificial and everything is fresh," said Garcia.

Garcia added: "If you taste it, you just don't taste the mango. But there's actually something that you can chew. There's a lot of flavors to choose from."

To match your favorite ice cream are pastries and croissants which are also sold at the ice cream shop.

"Ice N Cream" is open daily at the lobby of Novotel at the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. - ROBERT R. REQUINTINA