ON THE MENU: Fortnum & Mason Ice Cream Parlour

In search of something sweet and delicious, Matthew and I found ourselves at the Fortnum & Mason Ice Cream Parlour late Friday afternoon. Celebrating Valentines a little earlier this year, we took the day off and headed into town to quite simply, stuff our faces. Starting at Mildreds, a hearty veggie restaurant in Soho, who serve a mean ale and mushroom pie (see here) we then made a beeline to the grand setting of Fortnum and Mason in Piccadilly.

Famed for their tea shop and afternoon tea, the rich heritage that surrounds this whimsical department store is rather enchanting. As you step through the doors and travel up the winding dark oak staircase to the first floor, you will find The Parlour. Hailed as an ice cream indulgence, we marvelled the classic meets retro decor and gazed at the delicious array of sorbets on offer, including scoops of pistachio, marmalade, passionfruit and even gin & tonic! 

Pumping for a classic sundae, we resisted the temptation to order the gold leaf and caviar chocolate sensation and chose two of the more classic options on the menu. 

Complete with popping candy and chunks of pineapple, Matthew's Knickerbocker Glory was laden with scoops of strawberry and vanilla ice-cream, lashings of whipped cream and finished with raspberry coulis. 

A spin on my favourite chocolate treat, The Original Dusty Road was a scrumptious medley of rich coffee and chocolate ice-cream. Drizzled with butterscotch sauce, layered with whipped cream and chocolate flakes, the icing on the cake was a single but oh-so-perfect coffee macaroon.

Both delicious, and demolished within ten minutes flat - we're already planning a returning visit to sample their afternoon ice-cream tea. Yes really. 

The way to our heart is certainly the sugar kind - tell me, where are your favourite ice-cream parlours?