Looks like the summer heat is also hitting the Big Apple, because this Filipino sorbetes cart has now made its way to New York Times Square!
The iconic wagon filled with wonderful desserts is owned by Filipino street food pop-up vendor So Sarap NYC, who posted the photo of the ice cream cart on Instagram as a teaser of its upcoming summertime treat: the quintessential Dirty Ice Cream.
“IT’S GOING TO BE A DIRTY SUMMER!!!!” its caption reads under a photo of a man in brown tones taking an ice cream cart on a spin in the busy streets of Times Square in Manhattan.
The account also shared a few trivia about the delectable dessert. “’Dirty Ice cream’, as we call it in the Philippines is often sold in colorful Sorbetes carts which roam the streets and neighborhoods all summer,” the caption adds. “This means all year round if we take into account the country’s average temperature which ranges from 70 F to 90 F.”
“One is alerted of an approaching two-wheeled Sorbetes cart when a handbell is sounded by the ‘sorbetero’ or the dirty ice cream vendor. The kids and adults will then come running to buy and enjoy it either in a cone, cup, or ‘monay’ (bread) sandwich. “
Seeing the sorbetes cart in one of the US’ most famous landmarks certainly brings joy, but it isn’t the first time that the Filipino-American-owned street food joint brought a classic Filipino gastronomic icon to a foreign audience. Back in March, it also promoted the “binatog,” a dessert consisting of boiled corn topped with grated coconut and sugar.
These feats of pride for Filipino foodstuffs reflect the core mission of So Sarap NYC, which is to “remind you of your childhood memories and give you a taste of what Filipino street food is about.” Since launching last August, So Sarap NYC has brought the Filipino flavors abroad by grilling barbecue on the side of the road, peddling taho in buckets tied to a pole, selling ice candies in slim plastic bags, and frying fish balls and other tusok-tusok in a dedicated kariton.
Co-owners Sebastian Shan and VJ Navarro shared in an interview with ABS-CBN News that while the pandemic may have pushed back plans to reopen their pop-up store, their passion for spreading the Filipino culture in New York will definitely come to fruition sooner than later.
