The stick gelato specialty store "popbar" from NY, which opened in Shibuya the other day, is also a store where you can customize the base bar ice cream to your own color with your favorite toppings and sauces.
The joy of taking time and effort is common to all ages. I went to try the ice cream at the store, which is said to be crazy about overseas celebrities such as American actress Susan Sarandon!
■ Stick gelato specialty store Pop bar is like this!
The popbar is about 2 blocks further along Aoyama-dori after leaving Shibuya station and climbing Miyamasu-zaka.
The landmarks are a wooden sign with the words "pop bar" and a glass door. It has a simple and stylish appearance, and at first glance it looks like a hair dressing shop.
The size of the store is likely to fill up with 10 people. There is a showcase with stick gelato lined up in front, toppings such as chocolate sauce and nuts, and a cashier counter.
If you order with sauce and toppings, the clerk will finish it on the spot. Stick gelato that is dyed in your own color in front of you. Even if it doesn't matter, the tension goes up.
■ Order stick gelato!
In the order, we will tell you the flavor of the base stick gelato and, if you like, "dipping" (source) and "popping" (topping). Of course, stick gelato can be used as it is.
There are three types of stick gelato: "Pop Sorbet" (450 yen), "Pop Gelato" (490 yen), and "Yogurt Pop" (490 yen). Pop sorbet has a refreshing fruit flavor, pop gelato has a rich flavor such as vanilla and chocolate, and yogurt pop has a flavor like frozen yogurt.
There are a total of 26 flavors, of which 12 are prepared daily.
There are four types of dipping: "full" (plus 100 yen) that covers the entire stick gelato or "half" (60 yen) that covers half of the stick gelato, from four types: "dark chocolate", "milk chocolate", "white chocolate", and "mint chocolate". You can choose.
Popping is "half" for one side (plus 60 yen) and "full" for both sides (100 yen). You can choose from 7 types: "Pistachio", "Hazelnut", "Chocolate Puddings", "Caramel Popcorn", "Waffle Corn", "Almond" and "Coconut". Full can be hopping separately on the front and back.
I ordered "peanut butter", which is a rare flavor from pop gelato. The toppings are full, with pistachio and coconut on each side, and the sauce is half dark chocolate. It may seem a little too rugged, but it's a custom waste to include what you like! What kind of figure will you see?
■ Meet the pop bar dyed in my color!
Large pistachios topped with plenty of toppings so that you can't see the base gelato. The green is vivid. The diagonally coated chocolate sauce is fashionable.
The peanut butter gelato is just rich! You can enjoy the rich sweetness of peanut butter itself. As it is a sorbet, it melts in your mouth and has a refreshing aftertaste. It is a wonderful flavor that you can enjoy the forbidden "eat peanut butter as it is" without a sense of immorality.
The nuts topped on both sides appeal to each other without cluttering. Large pistachios are crispy, and fine coconuts are crispy. The slight saltiness of the pistachio is an accent to the whole.
The dark chocolate sauce has a crisp texture that is chilled and hardened. The heat in the mouth melts smoothly with the gelato, making it even more enjoyable.
When I looked into the showcase after eating, I heard a whisper from the stick gelato, "Dye it in your color!". It is another order without hesitation.
This time, with the theme of "kawaii", we changed from yogurt pop to "strawberry", the topping was half hazelnut, and the sauce was half white chocolate.
Strawberry sorbet has a crispy texture and a refreshing sweet and sour taste like berries. The milky sweetness of white chocolate is combined with this alone to create a well-balanced taste. With the addition of hazelnuts, which add depth to the taste with a fragrant umami, it is a nice piece that makes you think that you may have a custom talent.
When you eat only sorbet, you will be fascinated by its smoothness. You can also encounter the crushed texture of fruits that you did not notice when you were with nuts. In order to enjoy the texture of stick gelato alone, it may be okay to leave the untouched part with a modest topping.
■ Summary
Stick gelato that is customized in front of you for each order. The view brought a lot more excitement than a simple cooking scene. Whether you order it carefully or with inspiration, that is today's "your own color." It may be fun to walk around the city while appealing your individuality with a stick gelato like your own alter ego.