Sparked by Aloysius Teo and his wife’s shared love for ending their dinners with ice cream – there’s always a tub of the dessert in their fridge – Waffles & Scoops opened its doors at Blk 446 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10 in 2022. The idea for the cafe came about during a random chat with his mother, who ran a zi char stall at the S-11 coffee shop at Blk 450 for over 15 years.

They noticed that the neighbourhood had become quieter in recent years, with fewer dine-in customers due to an ageing population and the rise of food delivery. When a shop nearby became available for rent, the family decided to turn it into a warm and welcoming dessert spot to bring more life and footfall to the area.

He shared that their ice cream flavours are inspired by classic and local tastes. “We want to reinvent familiar flavours and bring back nostalgia for the silver generation,” he said. Some of the unique local flavours on the menu include muah chee and ondeh ondeh. “Ondeh ondeh, milk and honey, and chocolate brownie are our customer favourites. These flavours connect with them, whether it's a childhood memory or just a comforting treat.”

The mochi twist

To enhance the ice cream experience, customers can pair their scoops with a freshly made mochi pancake or mochi waffle. Inspired by the popular mochi food trend, Aloysius, a financial adviser, shared that the family experimented with various ingredients to perfect the recipe. “Even an extra teaspoon of salt can change the taste and texture,” he explained.

After a month of experimentation, they created a mochi pancake and waffle filled with gula melaka and pandan coconut. “This flavour was inspired by the nonya kueh dadar [a sweet pancake with a coconut filling],” he said. “We came up with the idea after a family meal of Peranakan food when my mum suggested that kueh dadar could go well with our mochi creations.”

Despite his personal lack of food and beverage experience, running Waffles & Scoops hasn’t been much of a challenge for Aloysius, thanks to the family’s background in running a zi char stall. Their regular family meals also double as brainstorming sessions, where they discuss new ideas for the cafe inspired by interesting dishes that they try together. One exciting creation in the works is an orh nee-inspired (Teochew yam paste dessert) mochi pancake and mochi waffle, which they plan to introduce in the next two months.

Desserts for all ages

Since its establishment, Waffles & Scoops has become a favourite spot for primary-school children, families and elderly residents. “To our pleasant surprise, some elderly customers will choose a local ice cream flavour and pair it with our mochi pancake or waffles,” he shared.

One regular in her 50s even travels from Orchard to Ang Mo Kio just for the unique offerings. “She once ordered takeaway waffles to share with her mum, which I found very touching,” he added. Moments like these highlight the cafe’s role in bringing people together over a shared love for dessert.

For Aloysius, good customer service is at the heart of running the business. “We always have someone greet you when you enter and leave our cafe, to add that personal touch to your dessert experience,” he shared. While he usually drops by in the afternoons, a dedicated staff member oversees the shop, making sure every waffle and pancake is prepared with care.

To grow the business and attract more customers, he plans to ramp up social media marketing, as most of his customers currently come through word of mouth. “In the future, we hope to expand the cafe to accommodate more customers and continue to introduce unique flavours,” he said. With these plans, he hopes to make Waffles & Scoops an even more popular spot for residents to enjoy delightful desserts.

[Chinese]

Waffles & Scoops以创新本地风味甜点为特色，如融合椰糖与香兰椰浆的麻糬格子松饼，搭配雪糕，为宏茂桥社区带来一缕清新与芳香。

[Malay]

Waffles & Scoops, yang menyajikan pelbagai pencuci mulut yang diinspirasikan daripada hidangan tempatan seperti wafel mochi berisi gula melaka dan pandan kelapa, bersama aiskrim, membawa suasana baru yang menyegarkan ke kawasan kejiranan Ang Mo Kio.

[Tamil]

ஐஸ்கிரீமுடன் கருப்பட்டி, பாண்டான், தேங்காய் பூரணம் நிரப்பிய “மொச்சி வாஃபல்ஸ்” போன்ற அருமையான இனிப்புப் பதார்த்தங்களை உள்ளூர் சுவைகளில் விற்பனை செய்யும் “Waffles & Scoops”, அங் மோ கியோ அக்கம்பக்கத்திற்குப் புத்துணர்வளிக்கிறது.

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