Simple scooping just isn’t cool enough any more. These days, when it comes to ice cream, it’s all about the smoke and the show.
Ice cream made with liquid nitrogen – and great fanfare – is the UAE’s latest “it” dessert, with shops popping up across the country since the dish first appeared with the opening of the Sub Zero ice cream shop in Abu Dhabi Mall.
Liquid nitrogen is the colourless, odourless liquid that is produced when nitrogen gas liquefies at extremely low temperatures – -196°C to be precise.
It has a wide range of uses, many of them more crucial – and decidedly less appetising – than making ice cream in less than 60 seconds. In addition to applications in the chemical, pharmaceutical and petroleum industries, it can freeze warts off the body and preserve human cells for laboratory research.
But back to the fun stuff. Scoopi Cafe on Jumeirah Beach Road has been serving up liquid-nitrogen ice cream since owner Zubin Doshi discovered it when he was on holiday.
“While dining out on holiday in New York, I happened to come across the concept of molecular gastronomy and liquid nitrogen, which really inspired me. It was exciting,” he says.
He opened Scoopi Cafe on JBR in December and has plans to open seven more outlets across Dubai in the next three years. The cafe dishes up freshly made ice cream, with a range of toppings including pecans, crushed Oreo cookies and chocolate-covered coffee beans. The flavours change according to the season. On the summer menu it has tropical fruit, lychee, fresh fig, strawberry, watermelon and even Red Bull.
That’s one of the benefits of liquid-nitrogen ice cream – flavours can be custom-made with fresh ingredients on the spot. There’s no need for the artificial colouring or preservatives used in normally prepared ice cream.
Choco Rain, a liquid-nitrogen ice cream shop with three locations in Abu Dhabi, has 20 permanent flavours and 20 that change with the season. It also serves liquid-nitrogen milkshakes.
Owner Fadi Hamati says: “Freezing ice cream with nitrogen gives you the exact taste of the ingredients, which is not the case with freezing it in the traditional way. The traditional preparation adds the icy, watery taste to it.”
The process has received a warm reception, with ice-cream aficionados eager for something new queuing up to get a taste of the icy new concoction. “The UAE is a very hospitable market to new ideas,” Hamati says. “People love trying new things here.”
That’s especially true when those new ideas come with a show. When ice cream is made with liquid nitrogen, the ingredients, the bowl they are mixed in and the employee making it are shrouded in a vaporous fog, which is actually just condensation produced when the liquid nitrogen comes in contact with the much warmer air.
“The concept of liquid nitrogen has the wow factor, which creates even more excitement,” says Doshi. “It is not something that is expected by the customer but they love it when they try it.
“You see them taking pictures of it and posting them on their social-media pages.”
The science
About 80 per cent of the air we breathe is nitrogen. It’s a gas that has no odour, colour or taste. Liquid nitrogen is simply nitrogen gas cooled to its liquefied form at -196°C. It’s cold enough to instantly freeze anything it touches, which is why doctors use it to freeze off unwanted tissue, including warts and cancerous cells.
It can also be used to preserve historical documents, human blood and tissue, and cool the central processing units of computers. So how did it find its way to the production process of our favourite frozen dessert?
The early ice cream and frozen food aficionado, Agnes B Marshall, is credited as being the first person to use liquid nitrogen to make ice cream, in 1901 at the Royal Institution of London. So, while it might seem to us to be a new innovation, the concept has been around for more than a century.
It didn’t really take off in the world of gastronomy until the 2000s, however, when British chef Heston Blumenthal used liquid nitrogen to prepare an improbable-sounding bacon-and-egg ice cream at diners’ tableside at his Michelin-starred restaurant The Fat Duck.
The science behind the ice cream is pretty straightforward. When liquid nitrogen is poured over an ice cream base mixture (whether made from milk, yogurt or otherwise) at room temperature, it starts to evaporate, producing a dramatic vaporous fog and instantly freezing the mixture.
The problem with regular ice cream is that the normal freezing process produces ice crystals, which results in a grainy texture. The longer the freezing time, the more ice crystals are produced.
Liquid nitrogen’s near-instant freezing ability circumvents this pitfall entirely and once it has evaporated, all that is left is a ready-to-eat portion that is buttery smooth.
sjohnson@thenational.ae
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
More coverage from the Future Forum
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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Fighter profiles
Gabrieli Pessanha (Brazil)
Reigning Abu Dhabi World Pro champion in the 95kg division, virtually unbeatable in her weight class. Known for her pressure game but also dangerous with her back on the mat.
Nathiely de Jesus, 23, (Brazil)
Two-time World Pro champion renowned for her aggressive game. She is tall and most feared by her opponents for both her triangles and arm-bar attacks.
Thamara Ferreira, 24, (Brazil)
Since her brown belt days, Ferreira has been dominating the 70kg, in both the World Pro and the Grand Slams. With a very aggressive game.
Samantha Cook, 32, (Britain)
One of the biggest talents coming out of Europe in recent times. She is known for a highly technical game and bringing her A game to the table as always.
Kendall Reusing, 22, (USA)
Another young gun ready to explode in the big leagues. The Californian resident is a powerhouse in the -95kg division. Her duels with Pessanha have been highlights in the Grand Slams.
Martina Gramenius, 32, (Sweden)
Already a two-time Grand Slam champion in the current season. Gramenius won golds in the 70kg, in both in Moscow and Tokyo, to earn a spot in the inaugural Queen of Mats.
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Leaderboard
63 - Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA)
64 - Rory McIlroy (NIR)
66 - Jon Rahm (ESP)
67 - Tom Lewis (ENG), Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)
68 - Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP), Marcus Kinhult (SWE)
69 - Justin Rose (ENG), Thomas Detry (BEL), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Danny Willett (ENG), Li Haotong (CHN), Matthias Schwab (AUT)
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The Bio
Favourite holiday destination: Either Kazakhstan or Montenegro. I’ve been involved in events in both countries and they are just stunning.
Favourite book: I am a huge of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, which I suppose is quite apt right now. My mother introduced me to them back home in New Zealand.
Favourite film or television programme: Forrest Gump is my favourite film, that’s never been up for debate. I love watching repeats of Mash as well.
Inspiration: My late father moulded me into the man I am today. I would also say disappointment and sadness are great motivators. There are times when events have brought me to my knees but it has also made me determined not to let them get the better of me.
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Schedule:
Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)
Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)
Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four
Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 28: Final (Dubai)
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SPECS
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TYPES%20OF%20ONLINE%20GIG%20WORK
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
Dubai Rugby Sevens
November 30, December 1-2
International Vets
Christina Noble Children’s Foundation fixtures
Thursday, November 30:
10.20am, Pitch 3, v 100 World Legends Project
1.20pm, Pitch 4, v Malta Marauders
Friday, December 1:
9am, Pitch 4, v SBA Pirates
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Meydan card
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 (PA) Group 1 US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,400m
7.40pm: UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,200m
8.50pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 (TB) Group 2 $350,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Destroyer
Director: Karyn Kusama
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Sebastian Stan
Rating: 3/5
UAE release: January 31
Company%20Profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
WHAT%20MACRO%20FACTORS%20ARE%20IMPACTING%20META%20TECH%20MARKETS%3F
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The 100 Best Novels in Translation
Boyd Tonkin, Galileo Press
MATCH INFO
World Cup qualifier
Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')
UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')
The specs: 2018 Renault Megane
Price, base / as tested Dh52,900 / Dh59,200
Engine 1.6L in-line four-cylinder
Transmission Continuously variable transmission
Power 115hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 156Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.6L / 100km
The specs
Price: From Dh529,000
Engine: 5-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 520hp
Torque: 625Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.8L/100km
Company%20Profile
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