Dondurma launch: Outlet brings Turkish ice cream experience

The delight is famous for its gummy texture, resistance to melt.

ISLAMABAD: With a long-handled spoon resembling a paddle, the server digs deep into shiny silver bowls to scoop out ice cream. The little show engaged a large number of capital city residents who had come to attend the launch of Turkish Dondurma ice cream outlet, here on Tuesday evening.

Dressed in traditional Ottoman red velvet vests embellished with gold embroidery and paired with matching caps, the server put on display an astounding Turkish ice cream experience.

Unlike usual ice-frosted refrigerators that parlours use to store ice cream, dondurma is heaped into deep silver bowls installed in a cart.

With his sleeves rolled up and an infectious smile stretched across his face, the server puts on a show. He stretches his arms, shoveling a long spoon into the bowl taking out a large chunk and then scooping a smaller piece into plastic cups or cones.

Focused eyes watch him as he serves it over and within seconds in a surprising manner snatches it back, twists it around and finally hands it over. It’s a tease. But the taste of the delight is amazing. A regular ice cream experience comes with its challenges such as ice cream sliding down onto hands and wrists. However, dondurma’s selling point is that it’s tough, doughy, sticky and fun.

“I feel like I’m having ice cream gum, but its taking its sweet time to melt. I love it,” said Anisa Khan, who was trying Dondurma for the first time.

Two qualities that this delight is avowed for is its peculiar gummy texture and resistance to melting. Made with pure milk and herbs imported from Turkey, Dondurma is offering the traditional chocolate and vanilla, with a seasonal flavour — pistachio for this month, explained Tania Zuberi, owner of Dondurma. “We will be offering seasonal fruit flavours as the year goes by,” she explained.

Dondruma is the latest venture by Tania Zuberi and her husband, Harun Khan partnering with a Turkish friend, Kemal Tas, who is visiting Pakistan. Earlier, the couple had brought Turkish Jewellery ‘Ottoman Jewels’ and handicrafts from Turkey.

“Whenever, we spoke to people who went to Turkey from Pakistan, they praise Turkish jewellery, handicrafts and ice cream,” Zuberi told The Express Tribune. “We thought it’s essential to bring the best of Turkey to Pakistan,” she added.

Khan said that they ran out of cups by the end of the event because people just kept asking for more.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2015.