Again, as if we didn’t say it loud enough the first time, “Let people enjoy the food they like and not pit food against each other.” That goes for American food media, who this week dissed a Kraft macaroni and cheese-flavored ice cream ($12 a pint). Made by Brooklyn, New York creamery Van Leeuwen, one publication called it the thing that greets you at the gates of hell. Of course, this criticism actually worked in favor of the ice cream maker as the flavor is currently sold out on its website.
According to Van Leeuwen, the limited-edition ice cream was made to evoke the nostalgia and comfort of a warm bowl of Kraft macaroni and cheese. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s gluten-free and made only with ingredients you can pronounce (cream, milk, cane sugar, egg yolks, Kraft cheese sauce mix, milk, and eggs).
“We know that there is nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than ice cream. That is why we wanted to combine two of the most iconic comfort foods to create an ice cream with the unforgettable flavor of Kraft macaroni and cheese we all grew up with,” said Emily Violett, Sr. Associate Brand Manager for Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.
While American media and some consumers are baffled by this sweet and savory combination, Filipinos were quick to recognize this flavor as akin to the popular queso peddled on the streets by sorbeteros and local creameries.
Along with other classic flavors like ube, langka, and mangga, queso with its sweet and salty taste is a favorite among kids and adults alike. I mean, Filipinos are also notoriously cheese-loving, topping most of our pastries like ensaymada as well as the Christmas staple bibingka with grated or sliced cheese.
Not to call people names but people who look down on unheard-of combinations need to relax and let other people enjoy things. If it is any consolation, after one popular news site’s takedown, rave reviews from other outlets came out, calling Van Leeuwen and Kraft’s collaboration “just weird enough to capture the attention of writers across the internet” and a “gimmick that’s actually delicious.”
Mac and cheese ice cream wins this round versus food skeptics.