MANILA — Japan in a chew. Many spoonfuls can define that in our united states, as actual Japanese delicacies have determined their footing within the Philippines. There’s a list full of appropriate eats from sushi and sashimi, tendon, okonomiyaki, and of direction, ramen. Something is missing, though, on this long listing of Japanese treats, and that’s dessert! There’s a dearth of Japanese goodies from mochi to crepes to honey Toast, but possibly nothing fits our u . S . Extra than the humble kakigori.
This shaved ice crowned with syrup and candies has many similarities to the Korean bingsu (which gained popularity here and our very own halo-halo. There are great differences even though. While halo-halo has beaten ice, bingsu has packed shaved ice, and Taiwanese barbing has shaved flavored ice, kakigori has snow. Last week, Shari Shari Kakigori Housepreviewedw chose media earlier than its first shop formally opened in June at Serendra in Taguig.
Founded by an affable Shingo Take, Shari Shari Kakigori House has roots in Hong Kong, with the Philippines getting the primary franchise outdoor of their domestic use of a. The partnership of Darlene Chua Lim and Arthur Dichaves, who also delivered the Made in Candy to the Philippines, is the local association. “We continuously search for new things that we are obsessed with. But, unfortunately, we do now not deliver in things that we don’t consider in,” said Lim. “We need to usher in something new, something that is proper— new and modern.”
Unlike in Japan, where shops specialize in one aspect, in the Philippines, similar to in Hong Kong, it’s normally a numerous choice of objects on providing even for specialty dessert shops. Shari Shari (the name is a onomatopoeia of eating ice) intends to observe the triumphing concept in Hong Kong of serving the most effective bowls of shaved ice as the primary item. Initially, the costs may additionally appear daunting with the most inexpensive kakigori at P270 and the top class items at P350++; however, the bowl that becomes placed in front of me is additionally regarded as formidable to devour by myself as properly.
“The value of sharing. I saw in Hong Kong whilst we went ther is that people are pleased after consuming it (kakigori). The vibe is very active, and the vibe is sat back but very happy. People collect in a small desk, sharing testimonies,” remarked Lim at the for sharing-sized portions of the kakigori. With a large mound on a bowl with a few white peeking out of crimson-tinged snow and crowned with a marshmallow-like whipped cream and a strawberry, it reminded me of bingsu.
A bite of the bestselling Strawberry Special wiped the whole lot out of my thoughts except for one phrase — Oishi! Delicious! The ice melted effects at the tongue, akin to the feel of cotton candy, with a sweetness that becomes wonderfully inside the center of sweet and now not sweet. The ice became a foil to enjoy the candy-tangy flavor of strawberries made creamier with whipped cream.
Next came a bowl of brown rice. The Earl Grey Milk Tea Kakigori is a premium flavor and a bestseller in Hong Kong. Many remarked that Filipinos wouldn’t care for the flavor during the tasting as Earl Grey has a unique flavor. What’s not to love about it although? It tastes like a nutty caramel milk tea with a hint of citrus — again, now not too sweet, and bites were made more thrilling thanks to a few hidden surprises interior – texture from crushed cookies.
When asked about a distinctiveness Philippines-only variation, I half of-predicted “ube” to pop out of Taking’s mouth but became nicely amazed at the solution of cantaloupe, or melon. Melon isn’t the maximum glamorous result. However, it shone brightly inside the kakigori. This is what you eat when Manila reaches forty five tiers –fresh, juicy, and cliché because it sounds bursting with melon flavor!
Last but not least was the Matcha Cream Special Kakigori — the alternative bestseller. After tasting three kakigoris (and nearly finishing the Earl Grey bowl on my own), I expected to take a chunk, take down notes, and get in touch with it a day. Winstead, what passed off turned into like one of these humorous advertisements — I took one bite, then some other, and earlier than I knew it, my associate and I finished the entire bowl.
If you’re acquainted with the Netflix show, it was a “Kantaro” moment.
It’s tough to pinpoint what makes the Matcha Cream Special sing—was it the matcha flown in from Hokkaido? The whipped cream drizzled with the darkish caramel flavor of kuromitsu that coated the tongue and balanced the earthiness of the matcha? Or changed into it the crispy bits of cookies that made every chew one-of-a-kind?
It could be the ice. “The ice that we use is different. The ice has a sure general, so we needed to make the ice ourselves — we can not order it from all of us else. So it’s a combination of different waters, and there’s a sure length,” stated Lim. Custom ice, shaved with a gadget from Japan, and with syrups made sparkling each day, it’s this degree of preciseness that Shari Shari Kakigori House brings to the dessert desk of the Philippines.
“This is a completely huge adventure for me. It’s quite tough to preserve a business in Hong Kong — lease is high, and it’s tough to live to tell the tale there — there is numerous competition. But we’ve been open because 2015, already 4 years, and I actually have the self-assurance to be fulfillment[ful] here,” stated Take on opening within the Philippines.
