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By Sam Wilkinson
 

As high as kites on a sugar rush that could have felled a buffalo, we Gene Kelly-ed our way back to the car through a downpour
 

here's a first time for everything," I reflected, as I swung open the glass door of Hไagen-Dazs on the Beach Road in Patong. Never having had much of a sweet tooth, I've usually stayed away from desserts when dining, so to review an ice cream parlour? Mine was not to reason why, however. She-who-is-to-be-obeyed had decreed that I turn up here on a stormy Monday afternoon in June. Right in the middle of the World Cup, too.

Inside, the air-con was turned up to a chilly blast, giving the place an arctic feel as scantily clad tourists drifted by outside in the 30-degree-plus heat. It was surreal. The plate glass windows of the eatery gave me the impression of being suspended in an icy cocoon, and the palms outside looked entirely out of place as I turned my collar up against the chill. Still, who eats ice cream if not to cool down a bit?

Scanning the menu, I found it read like an invitation to discard my sanity there and then: Nut Abundance and Go Bananas were just two of the dishes on offer. My partner Rob and I decided to stay on prudence's firmer ground and chose Everyone's Favourite Brownie and Perfect Moment. (Well, we are both over 30, you know.) For drinks I chose a passionfruit smoothie and Rob a strawberry shake.

Everyone's Favourite Brownie was as rich and filling a dish as I'll ever eat in my life. Just when I'd got the brownies conquered and was on the home run through the ice cream, I ran into another layer of melted chocolate which, in turn, concealed another heart-stopping vein of whipped cream. Judging by the look on Rob's face halfway through his Perfect Moment, it was obvious that he felt the same way about Hไagen-Dazs: They don't do things by halves.

Two American servicemen breezed in and helped themselves from the takeaway fridge section, then froze when they saw the prices: "Hey, five dollars for an ice cream? Whoa!" And they were off. It's true; Hไagen-Dazs is a little on the expensive side, but neither Rob nor I could so much as finish our helpings, they were that large and rich.

The choice of ice creams, cakes and toppings is enormous, taking in parfaits, "classic creations", "indulgent creations", "simply scoops", and 20-baht extra toppings as well as cakes and, of course, the ubiquitous takeaway tubs. One final note (and I don't know if I'm preaching to the converted here): Hไagen-Dazs has impeccable standards of hygiene. Manager Khun Thidarat is to be congratulated for one of the spankingly cleanest eating establishments I've ever been to in my life.

Both as high as kites on a sugar rush that could have felled a buffalo, we Gene Kelly-ed our way back to the car through a downpour and turned the air-con up to a glacial high. It felt familiar and good.

Hagen-Dazs: Beach Road Patong.
Open 7 days a week from 11am till midnight.