CHENNAI: Thirty years ago, if you were watching a movie in a theatre and craving some ice cream — two bucks could probably afford you some happy licks — off a bright coloured scoop in a waffer cone. Actually scratch that. That’s almost the same combination you’ll get today, even if it does cost more than 10 times as much. Softies instead of a scoop maybe. But the flavours — strawberry, chocolate, vanilla, (maybe butterscotch if you’re lucky) remain unchanged, almost as if time has stood still. Go outside a theatre though, to your nearest Ibaco — and it’s a different story.
Flavour combinations are layered creations of berry jams and chocolate chips, and the choices of ice cream themselves have grown far more evolved. Honestly, we’ve seen everything from Birthday Cake (Amadora) to Oatmeal Treat (Ibaco) to a decadent Strawberry cheesecake (Häagen-Dazs).
So imagine our excitement when we heard that SPI Cinemas’ recently launched brand — Eighteen Below — not only offers movie goers an element of chill to their snack selection, but luxe flavours that stray far from the norm. “I think a blanket favourite that we’ve discovered everybody likes over the last couple of months has been Dark Chocolate,” offers Bhavesh Shah, who heads food and beverage across SPI Cinemas branches. With French consultant Mickaël Besse on board, and a 20,000 sq ft factory set up at Triplicane exclusively for their chilled menu — we can tell that their ice cream plan is far more serious than just a flippant scoop that’s a ‘maybe’ for patrons.
“Ice cream may be seasonal for some folks, but if you were to ask me I would eat it every day,” Bhavesh admits candidly, with a grin. With all flavours eggless and options as fun as Expresso in a waffle cup to Cookies ‘n’ Cream and spoonfuls of Berrylicious frozen yoghurt — all ready to go five minutes before you head into watch Vijay’s Kaththi, all we can say is kudos. “We also have the cold stone experience at our space in Royapettah and Luxe at Phoenix Market City,” Bhavesh adds for the benefit of those who want to mix their flavours up a little.
Now this isn’t to say that other multiplexes in the city like Inox and PVR Cinemas don’t have ice cream available. But as one would agree, the options are outsourced, with flavours that are fairly limited and less dressy on both the cup and the palate.
You’re probably thinking at this point: ‘why hasn’t popcorn come up yet?’ Undoubtedly, popcorn and coke will always hold centrestage on a movie menu. But who says, we want to skip dessert?
Eighteen Below is priced between `80 and `190 and is available across five outlets in Chennai.