This is not a paid post but this is a post with an inherent bias. It’s because I simply love Frugii. I’ve been a Frugii fanatic for a long while – enjoying a breakfast ice cream cone on Saturday mornings at the EPIC Farmers Markets or an afternoon ice cream cup at the Old Bus Depot Markets. There’s nothing that Mr Frugii aka John can do wrong. Tomato sorbet? You got it. Pavlova ice cream? Yep. Wheat beer ice cream? Easy done.
Gingerbread? Sour cream? Licorice? Musk? Christmas pudding? Gin and tonic? Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and YES. (I’ve tried them all.) And John was doing all of these flavours well before he opened the Frugii Dessert Laboratory in the Ori building on Lonsdale Street earlier this year.
But John can do more than just ice cream, and opening his own store has meant he’s been able to show his full talent off with cakes, light choux pastries with custard fillings or squirts of sticky-sweet liquid, and verrines (layered desserts in a glass). The laboratory opens Wednesday to Sunday from midday until 11pm. The desserts are encased at the front of the store with ice creams next to them – each is ordered individually (ie you don’t have a dollop of ice cream spooned onto your choux). Desserts and ice creams range between $5 and $8 each.
Lemon meringue choux and verrines
It’s truffle season, so of course Mr Frugii has his annual truffle ice cream and, this year, truffle choux filled with truffle-infused custard. I can’t go past either. Frugii truffle ice cream was one of the first tastes of infused truffles I’d tried that helped me understand exactly what the truffle fuss is all about and the choux is no different – together they are a paradoxically decadent, delicate dessert.
Have you enjoyed a Frugii ice cream? Do you prefer the classic flavours or the original ones? Can you think of a flavour Frugii hasn’t yet experimented with?
Date: Saturday, 4 July 2015
Where: Ori building, Lonsdale Street (opposite end to Hopscotch – look for the A-frame out the front!)
Cost: As above
Value for money: High; while Frugii might seem on the expensive side, the genuine flavours are unlike anything I’ve ever tried anywhere else before.
Worthwhile factor: Highly worthwhile
Want more? Just head along. Or if you try the truffle ice cream and are hooked, you can learn of more truffle experiences to enjoy here.
In The Taratory 
I have just discovered Frugii and it’s unreal. Recently tried an amazing choux delight and also a verrine (Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake). I’ll be back.
Not an ice-cream fan at all but love his work. What Canberra doesn’t have is anywhere with those awesome Asian flavours: green tea, black sesame, taro, durian etc.. is he game? I might become an ice-cream fan if he were!
I loved Passionflower’s wild lime, maybe more native flavours? I’m curious about the seafood laksa currently on the menu!
I have been to Frugii once and only got myself a vanilla ice cream but your blog has inspired me to go and try some more flavours!
Would love to hear what you try and what you think!