While we love our Häagen-Dazs and Baskin Robbin ice creams, there’s no denying the certain charm and joy that we get when we savour local flavours that are unique to our country or region.
And if you’ve visited Malaysia in the last few years, chances are you would’ve noticed or heard of this particular ice cream café called Inside Scoop.
Not to be confused with The Daily Scoop (which is a Singaporean brand), Inside Scoop is the brainchild of Edmund Tan and Lim Shiew Li who opened their debut outlet in the hip Bangsar suburb on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur in 2013.
Best known for incorporating Malaysian flavours like durian, chendol, and salted gula melaka into their halal-certified ice creams, the husband-and-wife team has managed to turn their business into a mainstay in the dessert industry in Malaysia.
To date, it has opened a total of 27 outlets stretching from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh and Johor – with one just newly opened in the Klang district in February!
Inside Scoop is finally here in Singapore to satisfy our sweet tooth
And for those who have been thinking of the carefree cafe-hopping days in JB, we’ve got good news – Inside Scoop has finally arrived on our shores!
Opening its first international outpost in Bugis, you’ll be hard-pressed to not notice the ice cream parlour’s vibrant yellow-hued interior as you walk along North Bridge Road.
While it took eight years for Edmund and Shiew Li to introduce Inside Scoop in Singapore, we’ve got the inside scoop (pun intended) on why they’ve decided to set up shop here.
In an exclusive e-mail interview with AVENUE ONE, Shiew Li reveals to us that she and her husband actually worked in Singapore for almost a decade prior to starting their own ice cream business, and so, Singapore is a second home for the pair.
“In fact, most of the ideation and development of Inside Scoop was done in Singapore before we moved back to Malaysia. And unknown to most people, we’ve always had a partner, Derrick, who is based in Singapore. So, opening our first overseas outlet in Singapore was the most natural step for us and, in some way, a homecoming for the brand,” she contends.
As for opening a store overseas during this tumultuous period when no travel is allowed, Edmund tells us that it has certainly been an interesting journey for the team.
“We’ve had to remotely train the Singapore team to execute the project through voice and video calls, but thankfully, things have gone quite smoothly. It’s definitely been a challenge but a great learning experience,” he shares.
For the husband-and-wife team, the blood, sweat, and tears were definitely worth it because seeing others enjoy their ice cream creations is their greatest reward.
“With travel restrictions still in place, people are looking for avenues to escape the hustle and bustle of their daily lives. Having dessert provides such a momentary relief, and we hope that we’re able to offer that short yet sweet escape through our ice creams,” says Shiew Li.
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Enjoy local ice cream flavours made fresh daily
Just like how it’s done in Malaysia, Inside Scoop’s ice cream chefs here in Singapore make the ice cream fresh and 100% in-house every day right in the Bugis outlet’s kitchen.
You’ll be happy to know that there are 70 flavours on rotation, and the ice creams are all made using quality ingredients sourced from Malaysia, Singapore or overseas but with a constantly-evolving recipe to suit the local palate. Who knows, we might also get limited-edition seasonal flavours that are rolled out during festive occasions – just like how they serve up Bandung ice cream during Raya in Malaysia!
Ice cream purists can definitely find classics like vanilla, chocolate and mint chocolate chip here (which are all made to have a smooth, creamy texture).
Meanwhile, those who are ready for a gastronomic adventure can expect hyper-local flavours like Mao Shan Wang, D24 Durian, Teh Tarik, Marbled Black Sesame (that’s black sesame and peanut ice cream folded with crushed peanut sesame brittle), Chempedak, and Chendol.
Inside Scoop even rolled out a Haw Flakes flavour recently, which took inspiration from our childhood snack of the same name (yes, those disc-shaped pale pink Chinese hawthorn candies). There’s also the Unicorn, a milky, tangy yoghurt flavour that you should try at least once.
Prefer something more international? You have options like Hazelnut, Hojicha, Red Velvet, Lotus Biscoff Cheesecake, and Oreo Nutella Cheesecake to choose from.
In terms of pricing, it starts from S$4.80 for a single scoop of ice cream to S$11.50 for three scoops. Premium flavours costs an additional S$1 each, while double premium flavours such as Mao Shan Wang and Sicilian Pistachio will set you back for an additional S$2 each.
If you’ve got room for more, then don’t go without ordering their crispy yet moist waffles which comes in two types: Buttermilk and Charcoal (additional cost required). We definitely recommend eating the waffles with more than a scoop of silky ice cream, because one is just not enough! Western-style coffee and tea are also on the menu if you need a thirst quencher.
Those who are familiar with Inside Scoop will know that there are ice cream cakes available in Malaysia, but you would have to wait a little while longer to get your hands on them in Singapore. “Once the team in Singapore is ready, we will introduce the cakes! Right now, we are focused on ensuring that our ice cream and waffles are consistently at the same standard in both countries,” Shiew Li tells us.
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Take Insta-worthy #OOTD shots while savouring your ice cream
Adopting the fun, youthful vibes and greenery-filled yellow interior that all outlets in Malaysia sport, you can look forward to taking tons of pictures for the ‘gram here in the 30-seater outlet.
There’s a plant wall propped behind sofa seating, while potted plants decorate every table and almost every corner of the store for a welcoming tropical touch. Take a seat by the communal table if you want to soak in some natural sunlight seeping through the sunroof.
There are multiple mirrors as well as fluorescent tubes all around to make for the perfect backdrop, but we reckon the most #OOTD-worthy spot within the compound has got to be the yellow-hued circular garden swing that we used to play during our childhood!
Inside Scoop is located at 779 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198747, which is a three-minute walk from the Sultan Mosque. The ice cream café opens daily, from 12.30pm – 10.30pm (Sun to Thu) and from 12.30pm – 12am (Fri & Sat). Follow Inside Scoop’s Instagram for the latest updates and promotions, or call 9114 7566 to enquire.
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