Every so often, one of society’s great philosophical debates will pop back up. You know the ones I’m talking about; the fun stuff that used to divide us, like whether cereal is a soup, the proper way to hang toilet paper, or if a hot dog (or a burrito) is a sandwich. Recently, Tyra Banks brought a new idea to the debate stage: hot ice cream.
A few years ago, Tyra, a self-proclaimed ice cream sommelier, founded an ice cream company called Smize & Dream. She had a pop up shop in Washington, DC last year, but recently opened up a flagship store in Sydney. Smize & Dream just introduced a new dessert called the “HOT MAMA.” The HM, which has two different flavors, is “the world’s first HOT ice cream experience.” And no, it is not to be confused with hot chocolate or a latte!
Supermodel icon Tyra Banks has introduced her new dessert idea online, and social media users aren’t too sure about it. In September, Banks, 51, released several videos announcing her new ice cream concept, dubbed “HOT MAMA,” described as “the world’s first HOT ice cream experience.”
Banks explained the product has been in the works for a year: “And no, I’m not talking about me in a swimsuit in the 90s, although damn I was hot.”
She continued, “I ain’t talking about a latte. I’m not talking about a flavored hot chocolate. I’m talking about hot ice cream.”
Banks’ posts attracted a slew of commenters who raised questions and shared their two cents about the idea.
“Sooooo…. A warm milkshake?” a user said. Another person reacted: “me in some random person’s kitchen at 4am.”
“So…melted ice cream in a cup?” a commenter wrote. One user referred to the ice cream as “hot milk.”
Smize & Dream’s first hot ice cream flavor is called “Tyra’s Favorite.” The dessert consisted of toasted pecans, salted cream and caramel butter and was available at the shop for only seven days, according to a Sept. 26 social media post. Last week, Banks announced a second hot ice cream option, “Fairy Dough Diva,” which is also available for a limited time.
“This Diva is TyTy’s innovation in a couture SMiZE cup — buttery vanilla biscuit–infused hot cream, topped with Chantilly, rainbow hundreds & thousands, and finished with a slice of our super-buttery house-made fairy dough crunch biscuit,” the company said. “This Diva is in demand — but only for ONE WEEK. After that? Poof. Her curtain will close.”
Like many others, I have questions. The first one is the obvious technical question: Can we really call the Hot Mama an “ice cream” if it’s hot? Ice cream is, by definition, cold. That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be paired with something warm. I mean, I love a scoop of vanilla on a heated-up chocolate chess pie, but the ice cream is still cold. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind melted ice cream, but Tyra’s creation really sounds like a warm milkshake. Regardless, I am legitimately intrigued by the Hot Mama. Both flavors sound delicious, and this is coming from someone who has been a simple mint chocolate chip kinda gal for literally as long as I can remember.
The story behind why Tyra founded Smize and Dream is very sweet. She was inspired by her mother, who worked several jobs while Tyra and her brother were growing up but made time for a trip to the Hollywood Häagen Dazs every Friday night. I was curious, so I checked out the website and all of their flavors sound intriguing. I’d totally try Tyra’s Favorite or Super Dope Caramel. I also kind of love that Tyra calls herself an “ice cream sommelier.” The world needs more fun jobs like that.
Photos via Instagram
I have to admit I do eat my ice cream after it has sat in the bowl or cup for a while and it’s is mostly melted. So if this is what her hot cream is then I probably would eat it.
I would absolutely try this, regardless of semantics!
Those are tasty sounding ingredients! I’m in the confused camp, though–maybe the video will explain things, but going from the photos alone I don’t get it, so I was assuming ‘hot’ as in chiles & etc. I’ve been to restaurants that served fried ice cream–battered & deep fried–but this is very different. I’d try it, I guess. Why Australia, though?
Just pointing out the perhaps not immediately obvious to non-Aussies… she is marketing this in Sydney, Australia. Coming into summer. Where temperatures can go to 40 degrees C/104 degrees F.
Who wants ‘hot ice-cream’ in stupidly hot weather.
So is it like fried ice cream or just melted ice cream?????
“buttery vanilla biscuit–infused hot cream, topped with Chantilly, rainbow hundreds & thousands, and finished with a slice of our super-buttery house-made fairy dough crunch biscuit,”
This sounds amazing minus the “rainbow hundreds and thousands” because IDK what that is. Is that another name for Jimmies?
(speaking of philosophical food debates, we call them JIMMIES where I’m from not sprinkles!!!!)
“Hundreds and thousands” is the Aussie/Brit name for nonpareils–the tiny spherical multi-color sprinkles. “Sprinkles” to me are the oblong multi-color ones (they also come in chocolate) which are also known as “jimmies” regionally.
Tyra’s creation sounds like warm pudding/custard with cake/cookies, toppings, and whipped cream. Delicious, but not ice cream. I would still eat it, tho. 😉
Where are you from? I grew up in NJ and we say “jimmies” too!
Oh, OK, just watched Tyra’s video. You can have this ‘hot’ or cold–meaning melted in a cup & normal scoop ice cream. Normal, please.
Hahah Tyra is wild