Everyone probably has a go-to ice cream spot at the top of their head if you were to ask them right now. It’s no surprise since it is a popular sweet treat that Singaporeans often enjoy to cool down (seriously, the heat is no joke).
There are plenty of dessert cafes to visit — be it for a late-night treat or a post-dinner fix — but how often do you get to try local-inspired ice cream flavours?
Nestled in the heart of Kovan, Tom’s Palette has a second outlet for all the fellow north-easties — some of you may have already visited their Bugis outlet.
Unlike their Bugis outlet, this cafe is adorned with multiple eye-catching artworks in sunshine yellow hues and teak furnishings to exude warmth and vibrancy.
The place was just brimming with good vibes and friendly service the minute we stepped in.
There are 18 flavours available each day with six being on rotation from their library of over 230 flavours. Prices start from S$5.20 for a single cup or S$6.40 for a single cone with gelato.
It seems like they have a knack for experimenting with wacky, unique flavours including Nasi Lemak, Hainanese Kaya, Hangzhou Chrysanthemum, and Soya Bean Youtiao.
You can also expect to find outlet-exclusive items like the King Pin’s Cone (S$7.80) that features a deliciously cold twist to the Indian dessert-snack putu mayam.
Every waffle cone is freshly made and comprises a generous load of steamed rice flour “vermicelli” alongside the Tekka Market Coconut Sorbet and a light sprinkle of orange sugar.
Who’d have thought that this was the exact dessert I needed to beat the heat? It wasn’t overly sweet (even with the sugar) as the aromatic waffle cone perfectly balanced out the coconut sorbet.
I was pleasantly surprised to say that the soft and fluffy “vermicelli” added an interesting texture to the crispy cone — and it helped to soak up all the goodness which prevented the waffle from becoming soggy too quickly.
Besides that, they offer a sharing platter for large groups like Tom’s Six Shades of Yellow (S$29.80).
It boasts six flavours of yellow-hued ice cream with a good mix of sorbet and gelato which is perfect for people that enjoy variety.
Our platter had a scoop of the Kochi Yuzu which we thoroughly enjoyed because of its fruity and citrus notes.
It wasn’t too sour and was refreshing enough for this heat. Another one of our favourites was the Sober Piña Colada simply because it wasn’t cloyingly sweet and the combination of pineapple and coconut went well together.
Never would I have imagined trying Pipagao ice cream. It tasted exactly like the cough syrup but with a slight minty and sweet aftertaste (super interesting and worth a try). Otherwise you can always go with the fan favourites like Sicilian Pistachio or Granny’s Favourite.
The latter features a fusion of chocolate malt gelato with chewy cookie dough and chocolate chip. As someone who enjoys different textures in my food, the chunky bits of cookie dough was a pleasant surprise to bite into.
Pair it along with the soft and fluffy Belgian waffle (S$3.80 for half a waffle) that had a slight sweetness to it. The batter was light enough that it didn’t overpower the taste of the ice creams so you won’t feel jelak even after eating the entire waffle.
They’re also open until midnight on the weekdays and on Saturdays so you can get your late-night dessert fix anytime you want!
Are you up for trying wacky, local-inspired ice cream flavours at Tom’s Palette?
Tom’s Palette
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📍Block 212 Hougang St 21, #01-333, Singapore 530212
🕐 5pm–12am (Mon to Thu), 12pm–12am (Fri & Sat), 12pm–10pm (Sun)
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Photos by Jermina Peh
Sugar, spice, and everything nice 😼