Fluffy Torpedo

5/159 Smith St
Fitzroy, VIC 3065
https://www.fluffytorpedo.diamonds/

Ice cream is making a comeback, yoooooooo! Gelato has dominated the market for so much of the last decade, that I’ve almost forgotten that it’s not the same as ice cream (the former is traditionally denser but also less fatty). And Fluffy Torpedo is a no-holds-barred member of the ice cream renaissance, with its wacky ingredients (Pork fat! Kalamata olives! Vegemite!) making headlines everywhere. But does it live up to the hype? Well… sort of. I will happily concede that the quality of their ice cream is excellent, but the execution of some of the unconventional flavours fall short. Service is also hit and miss; sometimes it’s helpful and bubbly, but sometimes it’s downright rude. Also, tbh, I’ve learnt that I’m a gelato gal through and through, because your tummy doesn’t feel like it’s filled with cement after two scoops. But then again, maybe I’m just weak.

Rating: 13/20 – great ice cream but stick to the basic flavours.
I tried it so you don’t have to:
kalamata – tastes like black olives, but sweet, if you know what I mean.
pork butter, chilli oil, roasted toffee almonds – ice cream, but made with pork fat, and mixed through with chilli crisp. but also sweet.

The first time I visited, I spent so much time trying to decide what to have that I ended up with the most incongruous of selections. First up was the Buttered Baguette ($7.2 single scoop, $9.1 double scoop, $11 triple scoop), which actually did have a deliciously buttery flavour that complemented the smooth, malty ice cream. The Sweet Potato, Fireball Caramel, Roasted Pecans on the other hand fell short, tasting more like a lacklustre banana with a hint of caramel flavouring.

The Miso, Cinnamon, White Chocolate was one of the more creative flavours that hit the right notes. The earthy, savoury flavour of the miso brought out the sweet caramel notes in the white chocolate, whilst the cinnamon added a pleasing warmth. Call it the grown-up’s salted caramel.

I got pulled into trying the Chocolate Mud Cake with Milk Chocolate Ice Cream with it’s promise of being 20% cake, and 20% chocolate. It turned out to be just plain old chocolate, with no hoped-for chunky bits, albeit a quality version with distinct cocoa flavours. Similarly, the Saffron, Cardamom, Condensed Milk, Rosewater was pretty much what it said on the packet, with an emphasis on saffron and cardamom. Neither of these flavours were all that special, but I enjoyed the quality of the ingredients, and the way the simple flavours showcased the decadently rich and smooth texture of the ice cream.