The Cold Stone Experience

Faizly has been telling me about this unique ice cream shop in Roppongi. “Best kak… Tak mahal pun, 500 yen je… Baik akak try” He personally suggested one ice cream with peanut butter mix-in, which appears on the page in which Cold Stone Creamery describes its’ “creations” (as against ‘flavors’).

Ok, what makes Cold Stone different from Haagen Daaz or Baskin Robbins is that one gets to mix and match different flavors into their order. Instead of toppings, they have mix-ins, because the additional flavors are blended in the ice cream instead of being a last minute topping.

So, last Friday, Ridzuan, hubby and I went to Roppongi Hills after Asar to try the ice cream at the Cold Stone Creamery. I had done some homework, so we went there prepared with the list of ingredients for our own crazy creations for hubby and I. However, upon reaching there, we found out that the ice cream selection in a Japanese outlet (currently they have 8 shops, of which 4 are in Tokyo area) is not as vast as in their USA counterpart. I was quite disappointed to note that no Bubble Gum, Cotton Candy or Cake Batter flavors were on the display, and even the mix-ins selection too is a tad limited. I guess it must be due to trying to cater to Japanese’s rather bland taste bud. Japanese like delicate flavors and flavors that blend well together; nothing too sweet, yet fresh and fruity. That explains why Strawberry Shortcake Serenade (sweet cream ice cream, strawberries, yellow cake and whipped cream) and Berry, Berry, Berry Good (sweet cream ice cream, strawberries, raspberries, blue berries) are popular here

Since I was given the task to do the ordering (because neither hubby nor Ridzuan wanted to stand in the long queue in the freezing weather), I decided to just add-in a little bit on their Original Creations – cute, creative and yummy-sounding names with matching taste, if you ask me. Ridzuan asked for Chocolate Devotion (chocolate ice cream, chocolate brownies, chocolate chips, and chocolate fudge) added with roasted almond. I chose Cheesecake Fantasy (cheesecake ice cream, strawberries, blue berries, Graham’s pie crust) added with raspberries and pistachio nuts for myself. Since they don’t offer Candy Land (cake batter ice cream, M&Ms, Snickers, Kit-kat), I finally settled on ordering Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip (mint ice cream, chocolate chips, brownie, fudge) added with M&M’s, Kit-kat and whipped cream for hubby.

The creations come in three different sizes -"Like It" (Small), "Love It" (Medium), and "Gotta Have It" (Really huge portion). I chose to pay additional 50 yen for the fresh-from-the-oven waffle bowls. The waffle cones and bowls could come plain or dipped in chocolate syrup, and I chose the latter.

Watching the crew prepared the ice cream was an experience not to be missed. The crew scoop out the ice cream with two scoops, put the ice cream on a flat granite counter (which immediately reminded me of the flat pan we use to make okonomiyaki or murtabak) to keep the ice cream from melting, then all the different mix-ins are added and blended together. It’s almost like watching somebody making rojak minus the mixing bowl. Finally, the mixed Creations are served in either regular Styrofoam cups or waffle cones and bowls.

Faizly did not experience this – but while waiting for my order, the whole crew sang the store theme songs. I later found out that they will also sing songs if a customer leave some tips in the tip jar at the cashier point – which could annoy some customers, but I found it kind of cute albeit a bit quirky.

I was surprised to note that the line had only grown longer as I returned to our seats – mostly made up of Japanese girls and gaijin. A girl handed out mini fleece blankets for us to warm our legs just before we started devouring our ice cream. The completed Creation looks very luxurious and delicious. The texture of the ice cream is very creamy and rich, and slightly to the lighter side, perfect for blending the additional mix-ins’ taste.

My Cheesecake Fantasy

I simply loved the Cheesecake Fantasy. It’s because I can choose between having strawberry cheesecake, blue berry cheesecake or raspberry cheesecake alternatively as I chose how to spoon my ice cream. The ice cream itself was to die for – it tastes better than Haagen Daaz’s cheesecake and I thought that was already awesome.

Hubby's Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip

Hubby’s Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip was not too bad – but he said it might taste better if I added in some nuts – macadamia, pecan, almond or pistachio – or Graham’s pie crust to balance the sweetness. I thought it was already good though – maybe it became a tad too sweet due to the additional M&M’s and Kit-kat (which hubby is fond of).

Ridzuan's half-eaten Chocolate Devotion

Chocolate Devotion however is strictly for chocolate lovers. I found it to be a bit overwhelming in taste. Even Ridzuan who is a self-professed chocolate lover could not finish his due to its over-chocolatey taste and size. But then again, hubby too did not manage to finish his, so I guess it’s recommended for the guys to go for the small size instead of medium. Leave the medium ones for girls and don’t even contemplate having a large order…

Huzaifah nibbling on the chocolate-dipped waffle

The price is slightly expensive (over 2000 yen for three medium-size servings), but it could be a great treat once in a while. Already we are contemplating a return trip – probably when Ridzuan’s wife arrive in Japan. She’s still in Malaysia and would be joining Ridzuan sometime in early 2007. The atmosphere is nice, the ice cream simply delicious, with friendly crews. Just hope that the queue is not that long – or else it could be quite frustrating to wait since the longer the queue is the less chance of you wanting a tasting spree before ordering so that you don’t infuriate other waiting customers.

Unfortunately, there is no Cold Stone Creamery outlet yet in Malaysia – but chances are they will expand there someday. When the time comes, go grab one dish and taste it for yourself.

Hijab only makes her faster...

Here’s to salute Ruqaya Al-Ghasara for showing the world that a Muslim woman, in hijab and full-body suit, can win a gold medal in a 200m race in the Asian Games without donning body-fitting and skimpy outfit.

And we thank her too for the short display of sujud syukur and raising her hands for a quick ‘doa.

She was reported as saying that the feeling was incredible. Yeah, just watching her winning amidst all those runners in ‘seluar spender' as hubby called it - we felt that way too…

Passing it on...

I must say that hubby and I are very much indebted to Ridzuan - who has been acting as our courier man twice already, bringing us packages from Malaysia. When asked what we can do as a way to repay his kindness (apart from treating him out at Deniz in Takadanobaba, our favourite Turkish restaurant), he quickly replied that no, he doesn't expect anything in return, that it has been his pleasure to be of help. “Friends used to help bringing packages for me when I was a student myself. Since I can’t repay them, why shouldn’t I carry on the gestures to others?” This – from somebody we never met in person when he first offered (by e-mail) to bring some stuff for us from KL to Tokyo.

His words reminded me of what Mak used to tell me – whenever possible, try to help others and don’t expect anything in return, because when you sincerely help others, Allah will help you in ways you never expected. It might not happen immediately, it might not happen soon – it often happens when you most need it and least expect it. And like Ridzuan said, when you have been the recipient of an act of kindness and you can’t repay the person who has been helpful to you, you might as well pass it on to others.

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Talking about acts of kindness reminds me of Kak Liza and Abang Bad – or maybe I should address him as Dr Badrol since he had already gotten his PhD and now a professor in UTP, Tronoh – who took me in their home one summer holiday a long time ago. I flunked some papers and had to re-sit some exams, and since the exams were held during vacation, I had nowhere to live because my dormitory was not yet opened.

Kak Liza welcomed me to stay at their home for the two weeks course, not asking for a single penny in rental or utilities. She even asked me to join her little family (there were Kak Liza, Abang Bad, little Iqbal and his sister Aula – but I’m quite sure the family has expanded since then) during meals. She always asked me if I wanted anything to eat or drink, and checking to make sure that I was comfortable. She didn’t allow me to do much housework, “Go study, it’s more important for you to pass the papers. Just leave the houseworks for me, no big deal”, she would have said. I didn’t want to impose but I also didn’t want to offend her by paying when she has implied that she did not expect me to do so. So, sometimes I bought cakes and some food for her kids – which of course, was nothing compared to what Kak Liza and Abang Bad must had spent on me. The accommodation, the utilities I consumed, the food I ate…

So, when a friend recently asked if he could bunk in at the mosque for maybe a couple of weeks before he leaves Tokyo next spring – I gladly told him that he’s welcomed anytime. It won’t be as comfortable as his current place, and he would probably has less privacy, but if it’s alright by him, then, by all means, he's most welcomed. I probably won’t be as hospitable as Kak Liza, but I guess it might be a chance of some sort for me to pass Kak Liza’s and Abang Bad’s kindness on to someone else…

Ni nen me no kinenbi

“Kakak ni nanti kahwin dengan orang yang berkaitan…” an old friend of my mom once remarked a few years before I was married. Not that I ever believe in superstitious stuff, but the word “berkaitan” rather perplexed me.

“Berkaitan macam mana Tok?”, I asked for further clarification. After all, at that time I was having a huge crush on a fellow DPA course mate – and surely belonging to the same institute at the same time could be considered “berkaitan”, right?

“Isy, susah aar Tok nak cakap, tapi pusing lagu mana pun, orang ni berkaitan la..”

Fast forward a couple of years later – and hey, what do you know – hubby turned out to be definitely “berkaitan” –
his “kaitan” with Ayah’s ustaz who first introduced him to us;
the “kaitan” through his uncle who has been our family friend for ages, who had in fact once helped Ayah and his brother pay some bank loan by mortgaging one of his properties;
the “kaitan” through his elder sister and younger brother who used to be my seniors in school;
his “kaitan” with my biological mother, sharing same old ancestors from Pattani.

After two years of being married, here’s hoping that our “kaitan” will only be strengthened for many more years to come…

* This is the first time we celebrated our anniversary together since last year I was in Tokyo while he was still in Malaysia. After remaining undecided between going to Takao for momiji or visiting the Sea World Park in Kasai for quite some time, we ended up actually spending the day playing tourist in Tokyo. Just paying 710 yen each for Tokyo Metro one-day ticket, we
- enjoyed momiji in Shinjuku Gyoen,
- played with yellow gingko leaves in Yoyogi/Meiji Jingu Koen,
- watched swans gracefully swimming as well as enjoying nice fountains near Imperial Palace,
- went up Sunshine 60 building as well as went gaga over a lot of stuff in Toyota showroom in Ikebukuro,
- prayed in Otsuka Mosque,
- sampled miniatures of different cakes/tarts and took a closer inspection of the latest Skyline model in the Nissan showroom in Ginza, and
- dined in our favourite Turkish retaurant which served halal food in Takadanobaba.

Oh my, it was indeed a very long day - but with the really sunny weather, not too cold temperature and Huzaifah seemingly enjoying the day thoroughly too, it was quite a memorable anniversary, alhamdulillah...