Taming the heatwave

Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed

The mercury is rising to record highs, and the air conditioners have no respite. This is the time of year when umbrellas are used to guard from the heat, not from the rains. A cloudy sky seems like a godsend, and staying indoors as much as possible is the aim in life. “Summer” seems too mellow a word for this time of year; the seasoned Bengali phrase “kathal-paka gorom” sounds just about right.
To make the best of this season, keep your cool by indulging in the right cuisine. And no, we're not choosing from Thai, Indian, Chinese or Bengali. We're talking about the delicacies which have the best of all worlds, and can accompany any meal or stand on its own. Say hello to a plethora of ice cream and cool drinks to stay hydrated and satisfied in the blistering heat!

Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed

CHILL OUT

With that in mind, Star Lifestyle has compiled a list of all things icy cool from all ends of the city, to make your decisions easier when you just want a respite from the heat and are looking for the perfect solution.
Classic favourites
They say old is gold, and nothing really beats a reliable source when it comes to looking for quality ice cream in Dhaka. Club Gelato and Movenpick are two establishments that have been around for years, and have not lost their loyal fan following despite all the new competition. Both have some signature flavours that can never go wrong.  Club Gelato's best seller is undoubtedly the Ferrero Rocher flavour, while Movenpick boasts a delectable Swiss Chocolate flavour.
If you are in the mood for some heavy duty ice cream, you cannot miss Movenpick's waffles with caramel ice cream and maple syrup on top. Both have quite a few outlets around the city, so you cannot miss them.
The Ice cream mashup
If regular ice cream is too boring for you, you can always try combinations of ice cream with extra ingredients. After all, ice cream can only get better! Cream and Fudge Factory in Banani 11 are the veterans of the ice cream mashup in Dhaka, with a list of delicious ice cream flavours and a list of extras that will help your creativity to run wild. The extra ingredients will be carefully mixed into your ice cream so that there's a twist in every bite, and can be served on top of a bowl made of a waffle cone for that crunchy conclusion.
 

Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed

Pour it up
The midpoint between ice cream and a drink, shakes and chillers are sometimes the perfect solution, and you can never go wrong with one. North End's “Freddos” are delicious concoctions of iced coffee and additions such as hazelnut, white chocolate and regular chocolate. You can find North End in Badda and Lake Shore Hotel, Gulshan. Live Kitchen in Banani 11 makes a shake with Snickers bars which is absolutely delicious. If you are in the mood to stick to drinks without ice cream, there are lots of great options around for you too. Bella Italia in Gulshan Avenue and Dhanmondi's Shatmasjid Road is famous for its iced tea, and Movenpick is famous for its peach iced tea, which has real chunks of peach in it. Smoke Café in Banani 11 has got one of the most unique collection of mocktails on offer, so you never have to drink boring old water if you don't want to!
Fro-yo
The newest item to hit the streets is frozen yoghurt, which is a frozen dessert which tastes slightly more tart than ice cream, and contains less fat. The fun part of fro-yo is the ability to customise; you can add or subtract a lot of toppings to it depending on your mood. Currently, a lot of the ice cream parlours around Dhaka have one or two selections of frozen yoghurt in their menu. If that's not enough for you, head to Yoberries in Banani 11, which solely sells frozen yoghurt. You can operate the yoghurt dispensers yourself and choose from the wide variety of flavours. New Zealand Natural has got some nice selections of frozen yoghurt too.
 
So there you have it, a compilation of the best in the business of keeping cool. If you haven't tried out these suggestions, make sure you tick them all off your check list. Stay cool!

New Kids on the Block
Want to try something new? The best thing about Dhaka is that we are always full of options whenever we venture out to eat. Mi Amore, the newest ice cream venture in Dhanmondi 27 and beside Army Stadium, prides itself on using no artificial additives, and their “ice cream bar” is worth checking out. New Zealand Natural in Banani 11, which has made quite a name for itself in a short time, has some really unique flavours that are not available in other joints.

Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed
Ice cream: Mi Amore