(Tatabánya) Three sausage balls or spaghetti bolognese flavor… in Hungary, an ice cream parlor is causing a sensation this summer and filling its cash register with its menu of confusing flavors.
“We tested the beer and hash brown flavours in mid-July as a publicity stunt, and customers were amazed,” Robert Reinhardt, the manager of the shop located in Tatabanya, 65 kilometres west of Budapest, told AFP.
After receiving more or less crazy requests from amused Internet users, he got into the game and created all sorts of recipes based on local dishes like goulash or chicken with paprika, or international ones like scrambled eggs with bacon or carbonara sauce.
It’s not just a marketing initiative “in a joking way. I realized that you can get really good flavors,” says the mischievous 44-year-old boss as people crowd into his pastry shop, called “Roberto.”
So tripe stew, minced meat, pickled cucumbers? Those looking for a gourmet refreshment are in for a treat.
PHOTO ATTILA KISBENEDEK, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Roberto’s Ice Cream Parlor offers several meal-based ice creams inspired by Hungarian specialties, such as goulash, tomato soup or fermented cucumber.
Especially the youngest: Zeteny Kiss, 10, whose “tongue is accustomed to sweet things,” pouts as she tastes a cone with the tip of her lips.
His father Krisztian Kiss, a 43-year-old lawyer from the other side of the country, apparently did not make the detour on purpose, but “it was necessary to test” this new phenomenon since they were visiting the area.
He is pleasantly surprised to actually find the flavors displayed in these unusual ice creams.
Ildiko, a masseuse by profession who declined to give her last name, was given a free sample to try out the dozen or so fragrances before making her choice.
“For me, it will be tomato soup, sheep’s cheese with dill and breaded cheese,” she smiles, already planning to come back to taste these “surprising but delicious ice creams.”
“We are a little overwhelmed and we are constantly looking for staff because we did not expect such an explosion” in attendance, says Ena, Mme Reinhardt in town, in charge with her husband.
PHOTO ATTILA KISBENEDEK, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
A project for a second store in the capital is already on track.
Customer loyalty is what the happy shopkeepers whose store is always full hope for.
The media have all spoken about these creations, for better or worse. On social networks, opinions are also divided, with some commentators calling them “disgusting” or recommending them “only to those with a strong stomach”.
Regardless, the bet was successful: the TikTok videos posted by the ice cream maker attracted tens of thousands of views, even reaching a million in a country of less than 10 million inhabitants.
At 500 forints ($1.91) per ball, turnover has more than tripled compared to last summer and plans for a second store in the capital are already in the works.