Since starting Foodie Fred in 2022, content creator Fred Quieng has been sharing approachable recipes, baking projects, and sweet treats with her online “best friends.” Her interest for baking has since grown into a deeper curiosity and love for the craft, with pastry school giving her the opportunity to further develop her knowledge and skills. Along the way, her content has expanded to include food and travel experiences, too.
Naturally, desserts remain a major part of the journey. Whether she’s exploring a new destination or dining out, Fred is always on the lookout for something sweet and memorable.
Why Foodie Fred Chooses Gelato Over Cheesecake
Cheesecake was initially a contender for Fred’s list. After all, she makes her own and knows exactly how she likes it. “But that was also the problem: I rarely need to go out and buy one!,” she jokingly confesses.
Gelato, however, is a different story. It’s something she actively seeks out, especially when abroad, lured by the possibility of discovering a not-so-common flavor—be it an intense flavor, an unexpected pairing, or a combination of textures and mix-ins that makes each bite a lot more memorable and interesting.
For Fred, great gelato isn’t necessarily about elaborate flavors or extravagant presentation. Sometimes, what makes a scoop stand out is the taste itself. “For me, a memorable gelato isn’t necessarily the fanciest or most intricate and elaborate. Sometimes it’s about the quality of the gelato itself,” she says. “Sometimes it’s the way different flavors and textures come together. And sometimes it becomes tied to a place or a travel memory. These five are the ones I find myself craving, remembering, and happily going back for.”
Her Top Five Shops and Flavors for Good Gelato
1. Chocoviar from Venchi
“Still my number one! Chocoviar is everything I want as a chocolate lover. It’s deep, dark, luscious, and intensely chocolatey. There are no chunks or fancy mix-ins here, and honestly, it doesn’t need them. The gelato itself is the experience.”
She adds, “It’s like a passionate kiss in every bite! I especially love having it in a cone. There’s no coming back after trying this one. For me, no other dark chocolate gelato has come close.”
2. Cioccomenta from Aria Gelato, Boracay
“I know chocolate mint can be divisive, but I LOVE a good chocolate mint ice cream. Whenever I’m in Boracay, I get Aria’s Cioccomenta every single day, religiously! It has become part of my Boracay routine, and there’s something about eating it while walking along the beach that just makes it even better.”
She adds, “The mint is refreshing and balanced without ever crossing into that “am I eating toothpaste?” territory. Haha! Then you get these generous chunks of really good-quality chocolate throughout. They definitely don’t skimp on them. You never get bitin!”
3. Burrata Gelato Soft Serve with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Maldon Sea Salt from a mano
“I love a good salty-and-sweet combination, and this one just works. The burrata soft serve is light, creamy, and not overly sweet at all, so there’s absolutely no umay factor. I could easily finish the entire serving by myself.”
She adds, “The extra virgin olive oil adds another layer of richness, while the Maldon sea salt balances everything beautifully. It sounds like an unusual combination for dessert, but once you taste everything together, it makes complete sense.”
4. Mango Sticky Rice from Gatto Gelato
“I actually tasted several flavors at Gatto: Cereal Milk, Biscoff, Auro 70%, Pistachio, and Mango Sticky Rice. This was my clear winner. What I love most is that you can taste all the components of the dessert it’s inspired by. There’s the creamy coconut milk and sticky rice flavor, a subtle hint of pandan, and then the yummy tartness of the mango cuts through the richness and brings everything together.”
She adds, “The quality of Gatto’s gelato itself also really impressed me. It’s smooth, creamy, and flavorful, and definitely a place I’d happily go back to and work my way through more of the menu.”
5. Brown Butter Pecan from Breakfast at Antonio’s
“This is one of my all-time favorites. The brown butter gives it this deep, nutty, almost caramelized flavor, while the pecans add texture, richness, and even more nuttiness. There are a lot of things happening in my mouth, in the best possible way! And this isn’t just something I order when I happen to see it. I actually go out of my way for this gelato, whether that means getting it from Breakfast at Antonio’s in Tagaytay or satisfying the craving at their Opus Mall branch.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Known as Foodie Fred, Fred Quieng is a food content creator and influencer. Her content focused on easy, home-style recipes for her fans to follow, of which she always greets as “Bestfriends!” in her videos.
It isn’t about elaborate flavors or extravagant presentation. For Fred, good gelato needs to wow her with its taste, whether it come from the quality or how specific flavors and textures come together. Another way for a gelato to leave an impact on Fred is when it becomes tied to a particular place or travel memory.
As a self-proclaimed chocolate lover, Fred can vouch for Venchi’s Chocoviar gelato and the Cioccomenta (which is a mint chocolate chip flavor) from Aria Gelato based in Boracay.
The Brown Butter Pecan gelato flavor is from Breakfast at Antonio’s. Fred will actually go out of her way to satisfy craving this flavor by going to their Opus Mall branch or even going all the way to Tagaytay.
Fred also loves a salty-sweet combo, and the Burrata Gelato Soft Serve from the restaurant a mano just works. For her, the extra virgin olive oil and Maldon sea salt adds both richness and balance.
Gatto Gelato has a Mango Sticky Rice gelato flavor that Fred claims to be her favorite after trying a lot of flavors from their selection.
