Nasi Lemak Gelato? Mondo Celebrates One Year With A Menu Of Unexpected Flavours

If you think gelato is only about chocolate and vanilla, Mondo is here to change your mind. We recently visited the playful gelato and coffee bar on Amoy Street, and it is one of the more interesting dessert spots I have come across. Mondo is celebrating its first birthday with a new line-up of gelato, sorbets, coffee creations and slushies, but what really caught our attention were the downright unexpected flavours, including a nasi lemak-inspired gelato.

Taking its name from the Italian word for “world”, Mondo has always been about mixing familiar flavours with unexpected ones, and the new menu leans fully into that idea. The Jasmine Rice, Coconut & Sambal Caramel sorbet is probably the one to try if you want to understand what Mondo is about. It starts with the comforting flavour of freshly steamed coconut rice, before a gula melaka caramel with sambal comes through with a savoury-sweet kick. It sounds strange on paper, but somehow the combination works, especially if you are a fan of nasi lemak.

The Black Garlic, Vanilla & Peppercorn gelato takes inspiration from bak kut teh, combining creamy vanilla with black garlic and peppercorn for an earthy, savoury and almost truffle-like finish. Meanwhile, the Calamansi, Caramelised Soy & Bird’s Eye Chilli sorbet packs plenty into one scoop, going from zingy and sweet to smoky with a slow-building chilli heat. For something more tropical, the Coconut Sticky Rice sorbet comes with chewy glutinous rice pearls, while Mango, Kaffir & Lemongrass is bright, fruity and refreshing.

Beyond the scoops, Mondo has also introduced its Spiked Espresso & Soft Cream creations, made with flash-chilled espresso and topped with housemade soft cream.

The Lampone ($10) combines raspberry-laced espresso with cream infused with lemongrass, Thai basil and Makrut lime, while the Amarena ($11) pairs black cherry shrub with a red wine vinegar and orange zest cream. For the adventurous, there is Fungo ($10), which brings together shiitake and dark cacao espresso with black garlic and thyme cream.

Then there are the Sluush slushies, which feel particularly suited to Singapore’s weather. The Tarocco ($15) mixes blood orange, rosemary and gin and comes topped with a sorbet of your choice, while the non-alcoholic Melagrana ($10) combines pomegranate, rose and sumac for something floral and tangy.

There is also a Strawberry Sumac Sour ($9), Homemade Cola Lemonade ($8) and Coffee Cola ($10) for those who want something different from the usual coffee or tea.

For its first birthday, Mondo has even created a Mango Sticky Rice Sorbet Cake ($89), made with rice puffs and gula melaka, layers of Mango, Kaffir and Lemongrass sorbet, and Coconut Sticky Rice sorbet. The cake is finished in a custom mould featuring Mondo’s quirky face, making it quite a fun option for celebrations and something you are unlikely to find at your usual cake shop.

The flavours are experimental and sometimes sound completely mad when you first hear them, but that is exactly what makes the place worth checking out. If you are bored of the usual dessert choices and want somewhere you can actually have fun trying different flavours, Mondo is definitely one to add to your list.

For more information, visit Mondo’s website here.

Mondo

Address:
92A Amoy Street

Opening Hours:
Sunday to Wednesday from 11.30am to 10pm,
and Thursday to Saturday from 11.30am to 11pm.