Anyone tried the frappe/shaved ice dessert @ Minamoto Kitchoan, Picadilly, London

[limster]

Walked by Minamoto Kitchoan and noticed that they had some shaved ice type dessert (several flavours) in the window. Already had my fill at La Maison du Chocolat and Freggo, so had to pass, but was wondering if anyone has tried it?

[oonth]

Limster, meant to reply to this a few days ago. I haven't tried but I keep meaning to check out Minamoto Kitchoan, I have only really started developing a taste for wagashi on my last couple of trips to Japan. Wonder if they sell ice creams too - would love to find a source of wasabi flavour ice cream, a real favourite of mine. Please post if you end up trying before I do and I'll do the same if I get there first.

What did you make of Freggo by the way?

[limster]

The gelato at Freggo was very good - thicker and creamier than Scoops, but still smooth, not dense and chewy. The two flavours I tried were very sweet, banana split had a good banana flavour, and I liked the delicate crackle of the chocolate shavings. Temptation, which is apparently dulce de leche gelato with dulce de leche was also true to flavour with good shading of the milk caramel tang.

The alfajores weren't bad and perhaps a slight step up from the Havanna ones that friends and relatives would bring back from Argentina, but didn't seem too special -- a regular one that was extremely delicate and crumbly, falling apart easily and barely held to gether by the dulce de leche centre, and one enrobed in chocolate that was perhaps more cohesive structurally.

[oonth]

Thanks Limster, that's what I was hoping to hear. I've spent quite a bit of time in Argentina and have always been impressed with their gelato culture, must be the strong Italian influence. Nice to know that they do alfajores too, I think that the guys in Borough Market sell them too, can't remember if I've tried them.

[limster]

The empanadas stall sells pretty good alfajores, but haven't had in a while. Also on the lighht crumbly/powdery side, though less liable to disintegrate than the one at Freggo.

[limster]

Forgot to mention that I haven't seen ice cream at Minamoto Kitchoan, but haven't always paid close attention. Their mochi are not bad, even if texturally, they pale beside freshly handmade ones. But for a couple of pounds, one could get a sweet and some Japanese green tea and sit at the small table in the front. That's a pretty good deal for such a heavily trafficked area. (Skip the matcha upgrade, it's not properly whisked and comes out clumpy.)