The dipping of McDonald’s fries into a McFlurry has been ‘a thing’ for a while, and while it’s gross/delicious (delete as applicable), there’s a new twist that will no doubt delight/disgust in equal measure. Salt & pepper chips with soft serve ice cream is hitting Manchester.
Ground zero for the craze is restaurant and food hall Hello Oriental, off Oxford Road, devised after co-founders Ricky Yip and Azim Kourah were seeking to expand its dessert menu. First came the idea for a deep-fried ice cream, and then the extension of the McDonald’s trend, but with an Eastern twist.
“The team were pretty divided, to be honest,” said Ricky. “But when they actually tried it, the overall response from the staff was really positive.” The dessert finds soft serve piped onto the salt and pepper seasoned chips, and is then served with crispy onions on top.
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The dish, which costs £6.95, has been launched at the restaurant today. And it’s not the first of its desserts to cause controversy.
Last month, it began serving ice cream made using the durian, a divisive fruit from Asia known for its appalling smell, variously described as anything from vomit to ‘dead cats’. However, while the smell might put most people off, the taste is said to be addictive.
The durian ice cream is sold only on the weekends, and always sells out.
Hello Oriental launched last year in its purpose-built three-floor underground space in the Circle Square development, on the site of the old BBC building. It features a bakery on the top floor, a Vietnamese and Thai restaurant on the floor below and a Chinese and Japanese restaurant on the bottom floor, alongside a supermarket.
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