Here we are, once again approaching the merry festivities of Christmas 2014, and what a year it has been. Official annual ice cream sales figures haven’t been released yet but from what we’ve heard from our clients in the UK and further afield, it’s been a profitable year, a successful year and a year that will be looked back on with fond memories.
One thing in particular that caught our eye in 2014 is the availability and popularity of new flavours. Manufacturers around the world have started producing new flavour combinations that have appealed to a new kind of audience, and despite being a little bizarre in part, they actually they work really well. Strawberry and balsamic vinegar, coffee and doughnut, honey and ginger are all examples of perfect flavour groupings that haven’t been available on a mass scale, before now.
However, not all flavours that have reached the shelves have sounded quite as appetising; squid ink, octopus and haggis to name a few. But, these strange flavours got us thinking ‘can you have a traditional Christmas dinner made up of just ice cream’? As it happens you can, so rather than the usual annual review, here’s how impress, or depress, your family and friends this year when it comes to Christmas dinner:
Starter
Christmas starters differ from family to family but we’ve chosen a classic in the form of smoked salmon. Normally served on a bellini with perhaps a little caviar or cracked black pepper and a squeeze of lemon, but with thanks to the weird and wonderful Max & Mina’s Homemade Ice Cream in Queens, USA, it can now be served in a bowl in ice cream form (no. 5 in the list here). So how about this to kick-off your Christmas meal, and why not further the Christmas cheer by washing it down with Marshfields champagne sorbet?
Main Course
Now for the show-stopper…under normal circumstances. If you don’t feel like slaving over a hot oven all day, simply scoop the main course onto your plate, starting with a slice of turkey and cranberry flavoured ice cream from Fochabers Ice Cream Shop. As we all know though, the main is more than just the meat at Christmas so accompany this with a side of carrot (and orange) ice cream from Haagen Dazs and finish with a scoop of potato ice cream, although you’ll have to make this yourself, but here’s how
Dessert
The flavours are obviously a little less outlandish when it comes to desserts, but perfect for finishing a ‘traditional’ Christmas dinner is the ‘traditional’ Christmas pudding. This year why not treat yourself to a little of Heston’s Christmas pudding ice cream from Waitrose ? It looks divine and, for the adults out there, make it that little more indulgent with a scoop of Marshfields brandy clotted cream ice cream.
So there you have it, Christmas dinner in ice cream form. Admittedly it won’t be for everyone, if anyone but if your heart desires, it can be achieved thanks to all the ice cream manufacturers that think outside the box of normality.
2014 has indeed been a great year for Machinery World and before we go we’d like to say thanks to all of those who have helped it be this way, we couldn’t have done it without you.
Merry Christmas one and all, we wish you fantastic day and a happy New Year, and remember, enjoy your Christmas dinner, whether traditional or cold.