Burnt Cones opened in Sunset Way less than a year ago, but it already has a spinoff outlet in NEWest Mall called Up In Smoke, which serves waffles that are literally served with smoke.
The Waffle: At $10 for the waffle on its own and $19 for an additional two scoops of ice cream, this was not a cheap dessert – especially when there are less pricey options like Beans & Cream and The Daily Scoop in the west. Fortunately, the Smoked Applewood Waffle was very good and, I’m told, virtually identical to Burnt Cones’ highly touted one. Crisp, fragrant, and fluffy on the inside, this was one of those waffles you can easily enjoy on its own with maybe a little drizzle of honey or chocolate syrup. While I couldn’t really detect any hint of applewood, the waffle did have an undernote of smokiness that made me think of roasted or grilled meat. As for the actual smoke, though, it felt more like a gimmick that vanished very quickly once the lid was lifted off the dish.
The Ice Cream: Like Burnt Cones, Up In Smoke serves freshly made gelato, making for ice cream that’s characteristically rich and dense. I found the gelato here to be softer and lighter than it looked, though, and appreciated the varied selection of Italian and Asian-themed flavours.
My dining companion and I went for the Bacio (Hazelnut Chocolate) and Scamorza (Smoked Cheese) flavours, the former of which was not unlike eating Ferrero Rocher in gelato form and the latter being an extremely interesting flavour that actually tasted like sweet, milky smoked cheese.
With other smoked items on the menu that include smoked coffee, tea, and Philly cheesesteaks, this is one cafe that’s really working to live up to its gimmick.
Ratings
WAFFLE: 4/5
ICE CREAM: 4.5/5
Address: 1 West Coast Drive, NEWest, #01-67, Singapore 128020
Contact: 9738 8360
Website: www.upinsmoke.sg
