Toronto’s newest summer treats have entered the chat. Two of the city’s top chefs, Nuit Regular and Anthony Rose, put Bang Bang’s legendary ice cream cookie sandwich up against the latest sandos, slushies and scoops to see if the OG still has what it takes to claim the crown.
Bang Bang Ice Cream & Bakery 93A Ossington Ave., Everything Cookie + Peanut Butter Ice Cream, $13
“By far the best — this is my new favourite,” Nuit cheered obsessing over the chewy, crunchy texture of the cookie. Anthony, a self-proclaimed peanut butter ice cream aficionado, highly praised its slightly salty balance.
Cachito from Mexico, 267 Augusta Ave., Mango Slushy Chamoyada, $10.99
“This is my kind of slushy,” Anthony raved. Though he typically avoids them, he loved how the salt offered a contrast to the sweetness. Both chefs agreed the tart mango was incredibly hydrating.
6 Cloud, 3236 Yonge St., Sea Salt + Oreo Soufflé Cream Sando, $6.99
Though Anthony thought it was creative and well-made, the flavour profile ultimately left them both underwhelmed. Nuit found the overall taste a bit on the flat side and thought that more Oreo cookies were definitely needed.
Enzi Ice Cream, 5317 Yonge St., North York, Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream, $14/pint
The duo praised this scoop for delivering a punch of flavour. “It’s got a nice bitterness at the end,” Anthony noted. Nuit loved that it wasn’t overly sweet, offering a texture that would satisfy any true matcha purist.
Cha Cheng Tealato, 960 Bay St., Chrysthantium Lychee Tealato, $16.14/pint
As a massive chrysanthemum tea lover, Nuit enjoyed the crunch of the lychee but felt the flower notes were missing in action. While Anthony found the balance near perfect, Nuit wished for a stronger floral punch to finish.
Hank’s Chill, 903 Dundas St. W., Diet Coke Slushie, $4.50
This trendy sip fell completely flat for Nuit, who branded it “boring” and “flat,” noting the ice dilutes the essential carbonation. Anthony admitted it sparked childhood nostalgia of drinking flat Coke in the summer.