Phuket Delight: The scoop on ‘Pad Thai’ ice cream

PHUKET: If you fancy a scoop of Vienna with a Thai twist, there’s now a perfect little parlor for you in Patong – and they even serve a Pad Thai creation.

Pad Thai, a dish of stir-fried rice noodles with eggs, tamarind juice, chilli pepper and any combination of bean sprouts, shrimp, chicken or tofu, is one of Thailand’s favorite dishes.

Samero’s Pad Thai is made from hazelnut and coconut ice cream formed into noodle shapes, topped off with an “egg” (whipped cream with juicy mango in the middle), and garnished with peanuts.

This comfortable little spot in Phuket will no doubt sit well with ice cream lovers due to the quality, freshness and affordability of the menu.

Bursting with ingenious combinations of ice cream, liqueur, piles of fresh fruit and cream, Samero’s Viennese style parlor has something to offer all tastes.

The best thing is that no menu item exceeds 200 baht. Prices are kept low due to Austrian owner Wolfgang Samero’s “environmentally-friendly, local-produce approach to business.”

Mango sorbet, coconut ice cream, coffee from Thai Arabica beans, and sundaes piled high with Chiang Mai strawberries are just a few of the delights that Wolfgang sources locally.

“We like to get as many ingredients as possible from Thailand to keep it fresh. Other ice cream brands have been on airplanes and in containers for months by the time you eat them. Here, the ice cream is made on site daily in our open kitchen,” Wolfgang explains.

There are a few foreign flavors on the menu: chocolate from Belgium and Switzerland, vanilla beans from Tahiti and Madagascar, and hazelnuts from Piedmont, Italy.

“The ingredients are simple: no coloring, preservatives and flavorings – just milk, cream, sugar and up to 60 per cent fruit or other natural ingredients depending on the flavor,” Wolfgang says.

“This keeps our ice cream tasty, low in calories and packed with vitamins. If you want your children to get their daily portion of fruit, bring them here!”

They get a special scoop for just 25 baht from Samero’s – a real bargain considering the quality of the product.

With more than 25 years experience “eating good ice cream”, Wolfgang, a former electronic engineer, also attended the Gelato University in Bologna , Italy to hone his ice cream making skills.

If you would like a cool place to escape the heat of the day, or late at night, in Phuket without stretching your waistline or wallet, head to Samero’s. You won’t regret it.

It’s 200 meters from Patong Hospital, at 92 Siananyem Road.

— Alexandra Andersson