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Story
Ludo & Hedo, an experimental platform for cooking below 0°C, is an artistic intervention in a public space that was developed by visual artist Ola Lanko. The project was in action from 2017 till 2019 operating as an ice cream shop in Amsterdam West.
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The Story
In 2017, Ola decided to expand her artistic practice from art to the field of gastronomy. In this new context, her artistic investigations into perception take on new shapes and interactions with people become more playful. She opened an ice cream shop that came across as common at first while everything found inside was the opposite instead.
The flavours, interior, the atmosphere and the way ice cream was communicated by questioning the traditional conventions and evoking curiosity. With the unconventional approach to flavours Ludo & Hedo played with the perception and surprised its guests with the unexpected.
Ola selected the ingredients, composed recipes and designed the overall experience at Ludo & Hedo. She worked with the finest products to achieve well balanced flavours. Fruits and vegetables, herbs, grains, plants, oils, spirits - everything that one can imagine was used to create unusual combinations.
By diving into the science behind it and navigating the ice cream making process in different ways, the artist has explored where traditions can be bent and something new is discovered. The beautiful idea about ice cream is that it provides a remarkable opportunity to address important and relevant issues and challenge established conventions in a playful and light way. Questions highlighting the importance of diversity, empathy, connectedness, memory, responsibility and critical thinking and many others comprised the underlying motivation when translating the reflections into ice cream flavours and delivering them to the visitor. The way people’s thoughts got triggered was direct and therefore allowed for individual authentic response and own interpretation. The possibility of free interpretation and internal reflection was of utmost value at the core of Ludo & Hedo’s practice.
The project was in action from 2017 till 2019 running as a shop in Amsterdam West.
Foundations
Ludo & Hedo, not being a usual ice cream shop but an artistic intervention, always followed a set of principles that were reflected in every action, flavour and detail. These ideas assisted to create the overall experience and helped to keep focus on the ideological motivations that led to the development of the project in the first place. Written in the form of a brief manifesto it allowed people to connect and gain a deeper understanding of the driving forces behind the project.
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Foundations
Disrupt traditions and dominating systems
Question status quo and challenge assumptions
Expand horizons and propose different perspectives
Create surprises and unexpected experiences
Apply partisan strategies, blend in, but don't get absorbed
Hide meaning in details, allow self-discovery
Use curiosity, intuition and passion as tools for creation
Navigate fearlessly and persistently
Exercise and integrate diversity and inclusivity
Respond to the moment, reflect and react
Engage, connect, be present, serve the community
Flavours
Ludo & Hedo was playing with assumptions and expectations, challenging and questioning the status quo by creating unusual ice cream flavours which varied from traditional to peculiar. In total there are 180 flavours in the recipe book. The menu changed every month and always offered a new perspective on everyday ingredients. The flavours ranged from twists on classics such as burrata + chocolate, to eccentric, such as tobacco, burned milk and beetroot. Each ice cream had a peculiar name that allowed it to abstract the flavour and encouraged people to try more daring and unconventional flavours. Our all time favourites are Cool Kiki (apple + wasabi), Twilight Sword (miso + black sesame + caramel) and Young Adult (parmesan + chocolate).
To offer a case into the playful approach, on every menu you could find a ‘shapeshifter’, mystery flavour always in white, but tasting differently each week. By a simple act of tasting, imagination was triggered and memories evoked.
Explore some of the flavours created by Ludo & Hedo.
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Flavours
Timeless
Rich and warming flavours that are familiar and comforting. They are like a rediscovery of an old memory.
Sweet Survivor
Tahiti vanilla
Warm, floral, fruity and sweet, with cherry and liquorice overtones, the vanilla flavour is composed of almost 500 components. Its aroma triggers a comfy-homey feeling familiar with everyone. There are many varieties of vanilla but we truly fell in love with Tahitian vanilla. Its thick, shiny pods bloom with layers of floral, cherry-chocolaty aromas that keep surprising you and definitely deserve a gelato flavour of their own.
Bearded Filbert
hazelnut
Complimented with fresh and creamy milk, our hazelnut gelato is rich in flavour and texture. The nuts come directly from Piedmont, where they are grown and roasted to medium-dark by a small co-op per order. During roasting the key hazelnut flavour compound is multiplied tenfold, resulting in a deep buttery flavour with a hint of cocoa, a classy classic.
Velvet Dusk
milkchocolate
This classic combination of chocolate and milk will sooth you on rainy days and activate your senses when the sun is out. This recipe is softer and warmer than one would expect creating the experience of a truly decadent, warming and velvety texture. We use the highest quality chocolate from Peru carefully produced by Chocolate Makers an Amsterdam based chocolate factory.
You Happy, Me Happy
burratachocolate
In Italian burrata means “buttered”, which is exactly how rich Burrata is. Burrata is fresh cheese, which at first glance resembles a ball of mozzarella, however, after quick examination it becomes clear that the round cheese is softer, and, when cut in half - reveals soft and stringy curt of fresh cream. To play with creating a delicately crunchy texture, we added pieces of pure chocolate in order to balance the flavour with warm bitterness and sweetness.
Cutie Pie
strawberrymascarponevanilla
Made by curdling milk cream with citric acid or acetic acid, mascarpone is a thick and creamy goodness. Perfectly made for ice cream, we enhanced its buttery qualities with the sweet strawberry while the floral and aromatic vanilla adds the flavour a sophisticated note.
Biting Bente
yoghurtapricot
Biting Bente is our ultimate summer treat. We used yoghurt, creamy and rich in beneficial bacteria in combination with the golden-hued apricot - small, sweet and versatile, yet punchy to give you a dessert with texture of dreams.
Sicilian Rebel
pistachio
Nutty and grassy at the same time, pistachios have a distinct, unmistakable flavour. These smiling nuts, as they are sometimes called, are full of anti-oxidants, proteins, fibre, magnesium, phosphorus and have magic powers too. Next time you hear a sound of cracking pistachio remember, it's a sign of good luck. Our pistachios are hand harvested in Sicily where they grow on the volcanic soils of Bronte and take their time to enjoy all the sun and love they need to become a royal delicacy.
Single Pirate
chocolate
Our cacao beans come with a story. Grown ethically and organically in Congo, Peru and the Dominican Republic they arrive in Amsterdam by sea on a brigantine. Once here the beans are carefully and slowly processed to become the best couverture chocolate possible. The intense rich aroma of the chocolate ranges from fruity-cherry to deep dark like coffee and inspired us to make a single taste sorbet. No milk or cream, just an intense daring boldness of chocolate.
Hello, Beautiful!
apricotmangosour cherry
Summer comes with all sorts of pleasures and treasures including an abundance of fresh fruits and berries to treat yourself with. Hello, Beautiful! celebrates the most delicious part of this season with the combination of sweet apricot (a treasure chest of antioxidants), refreshing mango (alkalises your whole body) and sour cherry!
Holy Cow
strawberryyoghurt
Strawberries throughout history have not only claimed the symbolism for purity, childhood and sensuality, they have also been considered religiously sacred - its three-partitioned leaf is a reminder of the Holy Trinity. Holy Cow is our ode to flavours of childhood memories, innocence, sweetness and creamy holiness.
Prelude Postlude
vodkacoffeestrawberry
Prelude Postlude is a promiscuous and adventurous flavour. Vodka comes from the Slavic word for water, ‘voda’ and was sold as a possible cure for anything from infertility to the plague. For our experiment vodka helps enhancing the sweetness of the juicy strawberry. And joins forces with coffee for a mature, energising yet fun flavour experience.
Cheeky Stalker
strawberry
The ancient Romans thought strawberries had medicinal powers. They used them to treat everything from depression to fainting to fever, kidney stones, bad breath and sore throats. In modern age strawberries are believed to help reduce the risk of heart disease and are low in calories and high in vitamins C, B6, K, fiber, folic acid, potassium and amino acids. Our Cheeky Stalker is to put you in your summer shoes and treat you with all the goods this berry has to offer!
Flavours
Gentle
Light ice cream that gently unveil its flavour. Celebrating the purity of the ingredients, these flavours are refreshing, familiar yet surprising.
Peaceful Master
coconutmatcha
Creamy, fresh, fruity and with a grassy note, the coconut is a real beach boy. It grows best in sandy soils in abundance of sun and rain and does not mind salty air. Coconut oil is a superfood that provides energy and at the same time accelerates your metabolism. Matcha is a Japanese ceremonial tea. Being a variant of green tea, it provides a steady source of energy.
Bollywood Star
mango
The sweet and juicy mangoes are pure sunshine and vitamin C. They contain glutamic acid, which is responsible for stimulating your memory and maintaining the cell activity. They are loaded with vitamins and minerals that are good for your eyes and heart, expel toxins and are even said to prevent premature ageing. It is believed that Buddha himself meditated in the cool shade of a mango tree.
Polka Dot
lemonmintraisin
Polka dots are everywhere this season and Ludo & Hedo is no exception. To recreate the attractive and playful pattern of explosion of dots in fabric we combined lemon, mint and raisins. Lemons have been considered having mood lifting qualities and being activators of perception of flavour. In Polka Dot we combine mint, rich in aromatic and essential oils - a symbol of hospitality of wisdom; and raisins which together with a hint of lemon give our recipe more texture and accentuate the sweetness and freshness of mint.
Runner's Tears
peanutsalt
We’ve all known and loved peanut butter since childhood. The sweet and soft butter is not only a satisfying treat, it is rich in heart-healthy fats and is a good source of protein. The nutty spread also offers vitamins and minerals including the B vitamin niacin, iron, potassium and vitamin E. We combined it with a pinch of salt to transform this classic flavour combination into a refreshing and dessert.
Raging Sister
aperolgrapefruitkardemom
When Aperol hits the tongue, orange zest takes the frontline, followed by earthy gentian and tart rhubarb, all laced together with warm cane sugar. Bright orange in color it has a unique bitter-sweet taste deriving from a secret recipe that has remained unchanged since its creation. We combined it with the bitter grapefruit and citrusy, making this dessert increased in energy and vitality!
Brave Blossom
apricotlemon verbenaalmond
Brave Blossom our combination of sweet, citrusy and hearty. Lemon verbena has a powerful lemony scent and the fascinating health benefits of lemon verbena include its ability to protect muscles, reduce inflammation, boost the immune system, calm the stomach, reduce fevers, and soothe nerves. Meanwhile the golden-hued apricot is low in calories and high in flavour. By adding the healthy and hearty almond, our dessert receives monounsaturated fatty acids, dietary fiber, antioxidants, vitamins like riboflavin, and trace minerals such as magnesium.
Green Dragon
limetarragoncucumber
Anyone can agree that limes should be put in the limelight. Similar to other citrus fruits, lime offers a plethora of vitamins and minerals, including potassium. To give a twist to the fresh and sour, we added tarragon - a tender leafy, aromatic herb. Tarragon gives off liquorice aroma and taste, while cucumber, a powerhouse of vitamins, stabilizes your metabolism as you enjoy our fresh and punchy Green Dragon treat.
Swedish Breakfast
avocadobananalemonberries
This sorbet is a gentle yet creamy and incredibly fresh flavour inspired by a classic Swedish breakfast. The nutritious avocado gives the sorbet a buttery texture and banana provides with a sweet, but not a sugary flavour. Meanwhile forest fruits with lemon turn the combination into a fresh and awakening flavour.
Wooly Bee
peachhoneythyme
Woolly Bee is another gentle addition to our ever expanding Ludo & Hedo flavour family. The comforting honey flavour is complimented with thyme - known since ancient times for its magical, culinary, and medicinal virtues, while peach adds a note of sweet freshness.
Fluffy El
strawberrypeanutmarshmallow
Without any doubt peanuts are a great source of protein. However, they also contain other healthy nutrients, minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins, making peanuts the food for the strongest. For a touch of airiness, texture and sweetness we mixed in pieces of marshmallows, meanwhile strawberry brings in playfulness of the overall flavour with its luscious fruitiness.
Selfless Love
strawberrymangomoscato
The mango tree plays a sacred role in India; it’s a symbol of love and some believe that it can even grant wishes. Not only are mangos packed with flavour, they are also loaded with nutrients making them quite an incredible fruit. To recreate a perfect summer’s day no matter where you need to be, we played in some sweet and bubbly Moscato together with the ultimate symbol of a blossoming summer - the strawberry.
Bravo Avo
avocadochocolatebanana
Avocados are the embodiment of green, buttery umami. Fresh and rich, with flavour ranging from grassy to nutty, these fruits have the highest fiber and protein content of all. An Aztec symbol of love and fertility, avocados will grow in pairs. However, we found it a better pair - the sweet and subtle banana. The scientific name for banana is musa sapientum, which means “fruit of the wise men.” Bananas are known to reduce swelling, protect against developing type-2 diabetes, aid in weight loss, strengthen the nervous system and help with production of white blood cells, all due to the high level of vitamin B6 that bananas contain. To add a little bitter note this ultimate creamy combo is finished off with pieces of dark chocolate. Voilà!
Gentle Lawyer
avocado
Avocados are the embodiment of green, buttery umami. Fresh and rich, with flavours ranging from grassy to nutty these fruits have the highest fiber and protein content of all. An Aztec symbol of love and fertility, avocados grow in pairs. Ripe avocados are the ultimate plant butter and deserves to be celebrated in a single-flavour sorbet.
Cook Kiki
green applewasabi
Native to Japan, the sharp and fiery rush of wasabi is a combination of wonderful pain and pleasure. We combined it with green apple for an additional tint of sweet and sour. Apples just as wasabi are full of health benefits. Thanks to high levels of boron, they can help improve your memory, mental alertness, and the electrical activity of the brain, making both counterparts of Cool Kiki an energising and awakening combination of flavours.
Co Co Ja Ja
coconut
Creamy, fresh, fruity, with a grassy note, coconut sorbet is a real beach boy. It grows best in sandy soils in abundance of sun and rain and does not mind salty air. Coco owes its name to Vasco de Gamma’s sailors, who saw similarities with a grimacing hobgoblin. Coco is a Portugese word meaning an ape. Coconut oil is a superfood that provides energy and at the same time accelerates metabolism. During WWII and Vietnam war, when intravenous solution was in short supply, coconut water was used instead. That's quite some power trapped in one little shell! Our beach boy is a life saver!
Blushing Phoenix
mangocorianderchili
This combination may not be new in the world of cooking, but it's so wonderful it bears repetition. The sweet and juicy mangoes are pure sunshine and vitamin C. They also contain glutamic acid, which is responsible for stimulating your memory and maintaining the cell activity, are loaded with vitamins and minerals that are good for your eyes and heart, expel toxins and even said to prevent premature ageing. Meanwhile the pepper-spicy and citrusy coriander was one of the many plants cultivated in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. We round it with chili to activate all the sensory parts on your tongue and let each of the flavour reveal themselves one by one.
Resting Warrior
coconutlemongrasskaffir lime
Kaffir lime leaves come from the Kaffir lime tree, a lime tree native to Indonesia. The leaves impart both a citrus flavour and aroma and suitable for Asian cuisines, including Thai, Indonesian, Cambodian and Lao cuisines. For an even more citrusy and extra healthy contribution we paired it with lemongrass, known for treatment of stress, insomnia, flatulence, poor digestion and for detoxification of the body. Meanwhile the sweet coconut will add a gentle, creamy and calming effect to balance our Resting Warrior.
Sticky Rose
watermeloncinnamonrose
Our Sticky Rose is one of our most charming and exotic summer combinations. This flavour solution stems from a Sicilian traditional dessert and is commonly considered an inheritance of Arab domination, making this an exciting and culturally rich flavour merge. Cinnamon, the sweet and juicy watermelon, consisting of 92% water, in combination rose, linked to Cupid and goddess Venus, is a flavour celebrating the peak of summer, heat and the best of two worlds merging together.
Molly Bloom
green applejasminealmond
Molly Bloom is a mix of ingredients that unfold themselves gradually. The punchy and sour green apple grabs your attention at first, while the hearty and sweet almond brings balance and gives space to jasmine. Jasmine is known in India as the “Queen of the Night” because of it’s intoxicating perfume that is released at night. Some gardeners prefer to plant jasmine outside the bedroom window to allow its fragrance to drift in on the night air.
Tickle Wickle
elderflowerlemonsparkling water
Elderflower, botanically named Sambucus nigra cerulea, is a perennial shrub in the honeysuckle family is characterised by its blooms’ intoxicatingly sweet floral smell. The gently serrated leaves usually grow in groups of five and are arranged symmetrically along the twigs. Their heavy sweet scent has aromas of fresh hay and mild anise notes. To give this flavour the perfect summer pick-me-up touch we added lemon and sparkling water for a tingling sensation that will help activate and unravel all of the flavours.
Zesty Oli
olive oil
The exact chemistry of olive oil flavour is still a mystery for researchers with a lot of research happening on the side. The unique and delicate flavour of quality olive oil is related to the presence of a large number of chemical compounds. Over one hundred such compounds have been identified which, as a whole, contribute to the distinctive characteristics which make olive oil so unique. Zesty Oil is our dessert celebrating the unique and delicate delight of olive oil!
Gentle Giant
strawberrywatermelontarragon
Watermelon - usually big in size, yet sweet and mild in flavour. It has only 40 calories per cup, yet contains more lycopene (antioxidant which destroys free radicals) than any other fruit or vegetable. It is also high in vitamin C and a good source of fiber. To give the flavour a twist of liquorice aroma and taste we dropped in a pinch of tarragon. On top of that the lush strawberry activates the feeling of a warm summer day.
Bold and Beautiful
strawberrybananacorn
Strawberry and banana is considered quite a straight forward and familiar flavour combination lingering in food industry for decades - these two are natural flavour companions. To challenge and re-discover this partnership we played around by adding the sweet corn to the flavour to extract its authentic sweet and milky flavour.
Flavours
Curious
Flavours inspired by geography, places and spaces. These tastes explore foreign lands, ingredients and recipes and invite you to discover the world in a different way.
Punchy Jailbird
liquorice
The Sweet Root, or simply liquorice, was a favourite one of Napoleon, is indispensable in the sweet treats cupboard of Isabella Rossellini and has been loved by the Dutch for centuries now. A silky-creamy gelato, dotted with bursts of intense and round flavour with a deep warming aftertaste. So warm, you may forget you just tasted something under 0°C.
Garden Lovers
parsnipcelery rootapple
The sweet earthy parsnip has been cultivated since antiquity and was used as a sweetener until cane sugar conquered Europe. Celeriac is a knobby underground root that needs moist soil to develop its reach earthy flavour. Freshly squeezed sweet-tart and red-cheeked apples add the sunshine to the roots of the Dutch cuisine.
Enchanting Prickle
baklavapistachiorose
In Enchanting Prickle we transformed a traditional Lebanese dessert Mafroukeh into a flavour. First step was extracting taste of the charming and mysterious rose. To enhance the ballad of love and royalty we added nutty pistachios and sweet pastry Baklava - an ancestor of strudel, which evolved in Turkey. It's a dessert with a glimpse of desert!
Grandma's Birthday
applecinnamoncream
Do you ever remnisce about the memories of paying a visit to your grandma and her treating you with that beloved apple, cinnamon, cream pie? We would never try to substitute your grandma, but we do invite you for her birthday celebration at Ludo & Hedo. Our Grandma’s Birthday is here to celebrate the tradition and her pies made with so much love!
Wise Henny
herringapplegherkin
To assume that the Dutch like herring is a vast understatement. They simply adore it. In combination with sour and fresh apple and a pickled cucumber (an inseparable part of the way herring is traditionally served), we created a daring combination that aims to challenge ones perception of a dessert through Dutch cuisine. Called after Henny van Andel who was the oldest living person in the Netherlands at the age of 110. Henny said that the secret of het longetivity was eating raw herring every day.
Smelly Debutant
smoked sausagebeer
Our Smelly Debutant makes its bold appearance in form of an ice cream dessert. It’s a brave combination and a play on Dutch tradition. The smoked and umami saturated sausage will bring your memories back to the local grosseries store while the richness of (maybe add the information of the beer we used) beer takes this classic combination to a new nostalgic yet daring dessert.
Preaching mother
beetrootcucumberbasilkefir
Nothing speaks of summer as content, relaxed mind and healthy, sun-kissed appearance. Borrowed from traditional Baltic culinary this combination of the earthy and sweet beetroot, high on betaine will provide you with strong anti-depressant qualities, while cucumber, rich in vitamin B, keeps the temperature of your body cool. Meanwhile basil casts a powerful fragrant aroma and kefir works its fermented magic.
Honey Moon
halvapeanutchocolate
Our Honey Moon is an ode for lovers. Halva is a traditional sweet orgiginated in the Middle East, Greece, Israel and is typically made with a mix of honey and sesame seeds. In order to accentuate the sweetness we added pieces of salty peanut melted in chocolate, making this combination one of our most romantic and soothing there is this far.
Cabin for Two
walnutrosemaryricotta
Cabin for Two is a flavour that brings comfort through delicacy. The name Rosemary originates from the Latin word rosmarinus, meaning “mist of the sea”. The lemon and pine-like taste of rosemary is combined with walnut - the oldest known tree food, earthy, fruity and tart in taste. Finally, we added fresh Italian ricotta to soften and balance the flavour.
Flip Flop
mangocardamonkefir
If you have no time for vacation this year, we are bringing the tropical paradise to you. The sweet and juicy mangoes are pure sunshine and vitamin C. They also contain glutamic acid, which is responsible for stimulating your memory and maintaining the cell activity, are loaded with vitamins and minerals that are good for your eyes and heart, expel toxins and even said to prevent premature ageing. Meanwhile cardamom is deep and earthy in flavour, sharp, spicy with a crisp hint of sweet with health benefits including gastrointestinal protection, cholesterol control, control of cancer, relief from cardiovascular issues, and improvement of blood circulation in the body. On top of it all slightly sour, deliciously creamy and refreshing kefir will add texture and incredibly smooth mouthfeel to this tropical dessert.
Molen Kick
proseccobitter orange
Proost! Živjeli! Salut! Skál! Priekā! Na zdravie! Chok dee! Skål! Prosecco is the perfect choice if you need your bubbles, sorry - ice cream, just right. We combined it with the Oranje Bitter which flavoring is made from the peels of Seville oranges, cardamom, caraway seed, coriander and burnt sugar in an alcohol base.
War Fries
potatomayonnaisepeanutchillionion caramel
Collaboration with Salt & Straw - War Fries is an interpretation of the classic Dutch patatje oorlog. The flavour is creamy and pronounced with a twist of saltiness and spiciness - a true ode to Dutch culture!
Curvy Princess
strawberrycoconutrose
Rose, one of the worlds most graceful symbols is also an exquisite flavour and an authentic scent. Abundant in flavour and lovely sweetness, Curvy Princess is a seduction in form of an ice cream. While rose plays into the taste floral tones, strawberry adds fresh undertones and fruitiness, while coconut provides it with creaminess for days.
Boat on Fire
bananalapsangorange
Lapsang is a plant known for its dark, twisted leaves that make it also a wonderful tea. What sets it apart form other teas, is its smoky flavour and fragrance. Boat on Fire is a getaway in form of a gelato. Next to lapsang bananas, full of amino acid and vitamin B6, will add a gentle sweetness and increase your happiness hormones, while orange will give the flavour a refreshing and aromatic twist.
Taaie Kees
Herve cheesestroop
Herve cheese is a Belgian rind washed soft cheese made from raw cow milk. For the ripening process it is left in cellars, sometimes cut into chalky rock. Young Herve is sweet inside and spicy at the edges. To offset its deep ripe flavour we chose a product from the Dutch province of Limburg - apple stroop. The result is surprising and delightful: the sweet sourness of the stroop welcomes you first, giving the very light, but characteristic cheese flavour time to develop in the aftertaste.
Easter Promise
eggnogmeringue
This special Easter flavour combines the two vintage classics - egg liquor Advocaat and crunchy meringue bits. An ode to tradition, Tante Leen and Amsterdam’s quarter Jordaan, it is rich, decadent and slightly nostalgic.
Greedy Voyager
almondspices
Greedy Voyager is an ode one of the dearest Dutch dessert ingredient - almond, but also an ode to the history of trade during Golden Age. Almonds have been prized since ancient times as one of humankind’s most beloved nuts. Ancient Indian Ayurvedic practitioners even believed that almonds were capable of increasing brain capacity, intellectual ability and longevity. We give the pedestal to the almond in this one and enrich its flavour with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, anise, cardamon, white pepper, black pepper and clove, spices that were imported by the Dutch during the Golden Age.
Piep Zonderkop
potato
The trade of earthy, starchy, sweet yet subtle potatos is at record levels as consumers across the world discover the nutrition and environmental benefits of the crop. Contrary to popular myth and misconception, potatoes are an extremely nutrient-rich vegetable. One medium potato contains 45 percent of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C and they also contain potassium, B6, fiber and numerous other vitamins and minerals. Piep Zonderkop is our tribute to the incredible potato!
Toe Vla Toe Vla
vanillaegg
The classic and dearly beloved Dutch Vanilla Vla has found a new shape in our assortment of ice desserts. The Dutch dairy product made from fresh milk was first documented in the 13th century and originally referred to any custard-like substance covering cakes or other baked goods. It’s sweet and faithfully comforting taste is here to sooth.
Stubborn Tourist
mangopickled onion
The love for the aromatic and and flavourful onion has remained persistent throughout civilisations. Ancient Egyptians worshipped onions, believing their spherical shape and concentric circles within symbolized eternity. In fact, onions were often placed in the burial tombs of pharoahs, as they were believed to bring about prosperity in the afterlife. We added the sweet and juicy mango to round up this combination and accentuate the sweetness of fresh onions.
Missis Y
Sea buckthorn
Also called the sea berry, sand thorn, and sallow thorn, sea buckthorn is a deciduous shrub native to Europe and Asia - a rare species of fruit in the family Elaeagnaceae and Hippophae genus. According to Greek legend, war injured horses were set free to die a natural death. Soldiers were astonished when they saw horses returning from sea buckthorn forests full of health and strength carrying radiant, shiny fur. Additionally, sea buckthorn shrubs have a remarkable lifespan of 100 to 150 years. The berries are oily, bitter, sour, tart and astringent in taste and are very high in nutrient value.
Brother from Another Mother
strawberrytomato
An unusual yet highly compatable flavour combination. Tomato has powerful medicinal properties. It can lower the risk of cancer, prevents cardiovascular diseases and is full of minerals and vitamins. In combination with the sweet and luscious strawberry it plays with finding the perfect balance between the savoury umami and fruity sweetness.
Fair Maiden
rye Breadricottacranberry
Fair Maiden is an ode to rye bread. The sharp in flavour and wholesome rye bread is combined with creamy Italian ricotta cheese and an additional punch of the incredibly nutritious cranberry. Ricotta makes the experience of rye a delicate one while cranberry adds a refreshing overall tone to the flavour.
Lowland Totem
rye breadcranberrycumin
Rye has long been the underdog grain, associated with the lower class and relegated to the status of “acquired taste.” But not everywhere and especially not at Ludo & Hedo. The hearty Rye is s a good source of soluble fiber, vitamin E, calcium, iron, and potassium. We paired it with the incredibly healthy and punchy cranberry and woody cumin, which is an excellent source of iron and manganese.
Secret Knowledge
birch juice
During spring, all sorts of wanders can be observed in forests. One of them is the production of Birch juice. They say that if you walk in Birch forest at night, you can hear the trees transporting the juice through their trunks. Besides being a phenomenal observation, birch juice is also incredibly good for you. At early stages sweet and at later stages - fermented beverage, offers lots of benefits to your health, loaded with vitamins, proteins, amino acids, and minerals.
Sweet Sabbatical
strawberryThai basilrum
Sweet Sabbatical is our dream of inspiring and mind-altering places and spaces. Thai basil leaves are aromatic and have a strong, spicy flavor with hints of licorice. Rum plays in hints of molasses and vanilla while strawberry works its sweetness and fruitiness into the adventure of having a sabbatical.
Smoky Cabin
strawberryearl greydried cherry
The luscious and sweet cherries are bursting with nutrition and health benefits - from a better night's rest to a trimmer tummy to managing certain diseases. The smoky earl grey makes it a great companion as it tames and gives a mature twist to the flavour. For an abundance in flavour and a burst of freshness we dropped in some luscious strawberries.
Flavours
Eccentric
Signature flavours that are undertaken with courage. These unexpected flavour combinations are based on aromaticity or a peculiar discovery from culinary history.
Barbaric Magic
orangepine nutrosemary
Oranges tickle the senses with their delightfully refreshing scent. The rich buttery flavour of Siberian pine nuts provides comfort and evokes winter memories. Our aromatic sherbet, half gelato half sorbet, evokes warm and cold sensation at the same time. The slightly minty, peppery, balsamic taste with a woody aftertaste of rosemary completes the flavour palette with gentle authority.
Monk’s Wedding
walnutdatebuttermilk
Earthy, slightly fruity with a bit of tart flavour, walnuts are packed with Omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamin E and melatonin. We combined them with dates, toffee-sweet like Mediterranean sunshine. To shadow the complex sweet and earthy-nutty flavours we chose buttermilk – a slightly tangy fermented milk drink, which is full of healthy probiotics and sets the perfect stage for walnut and date romance.
Secret Agent
rooibosgingerchocolatecocoa nibs
Rooibos is a plant grown in a small mountainous area of Cederberg in South Africa’s Western Cape. Fresh rooibos leaves are green when first picked, but change their colour to brick red and their flavour to woody/earthy during the fermentation process. Adding milk brings out the herb’s deep warmth that we accentuated even more by adding ginger root. Cacao butter infused with chocolate nibs give it a rich creamy base, dotted with small bites of chocolate crunch.
Blue Marble
gorgonzolapearwalnut
Pears are one of the few fruits owning an extensive history, reaching back to about 1000 B.C. They used to be called “butter fruit” for its soft, butter-like texture. We combined it with the crumbly and soft gorgonzola, one of the world's oldest blue-veined cheeses. Its nutty flavour is enhanced by adding a pinch of walnuts. Walnuts gracefully compliment the sweetly mellow peer and robust gorgonzola with some tangy and sharp notes.
Vincent van Goat
goat cheesethymewalnut
Goat cheeses have a unique, tart, earthy flavour that sets them apart from cow cheeses. This distinctive tang and aroma grows robust and bold as it ages. Meanwhile thyme has been known since ancient times for its magical, culinary, and medicinal virtues. Tradition held that an infusion of thyme taken as a tea on midsummer's eve would enable one to see the fairies dancing. To enhance this magical combination we added the tangy and earthy walnut.
Dare Devil
strawberryliquorice
Liquorice is native to Southern Europe and Asia and is referred to as ‘sweet root’, attributing to a component called glycyrrhizin present in its root which is much sweeter than sugar. In traditional Chinese medicine it was referred as “the peacemaker”. Meanwhile Romans believed that the sweet strawberry could cure melancholy, fever, bad breath, chronic fainting, and spleen and liver disorders. We mix it all with the tart rhubarb and there you have your new summer’s pick-me-up!
Dorothy's Dream
mascarponepoppy seedprunes
Nutty and pleasant in taste, poppy seeds are nutritious oilseeds and are mainly used in the culinary world for their crunchy texture and unique flavour. We think they are pretty amazing too and merged them with plums - one of the first fruits domesticated by humans. Plums, ranging from sweet to tart, are excellent source of vitamin C. To enrich both of the flavours we added mascarpone, the dense and somewhat sweet cream.
Willie Wortel
carrotgingerchocolate
The sweet and fruity carrots can be traced back about 5,000 years through historical documents and paintings. The veggie is an excellent source of vitamin A, providing more than 200% of your daily requirement in just one carrot. Carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, a natural chemical that the body changes into vitamin A. Complimented with the pungent ginger and chocolate to create a comforting and soothingly familiar flavour.
Cocky Berry
raspberrybalsamico
Who would have thought one single raspberry can contain so much goodness? Raspberries contain more vitamin C than oranges, are super high in fibre, low in calories and supply you with a good dose of folic acid. They are sweet, they are juicy, they are a perfection. To make the berry even more exciting we added the woody, sweet and leathery balsamic vinegar. It moves like a syrup, is glossy, viscious and has a velvety texture on the tongue.
Dancing Boris
vodkacoffeecream
Feeling the mid-week low? Longing for the weekend to finally arrive? Join the dance of our Dancing Boris, a flavour that will get the time to moving and your mind to dancing. Combining vodka with cream and coffee we hope to give an energy boost to last you till the rest of the week!
Disco Dancer
rice noodlesrosepistachio
Disco Dancer is our play on Faloodeh - a Persian frozen dessert. Unlike Western ice creams, it’s made of unusual ingredients, such as, rice noodles, rose water and pistachio. It’s incredibly light, sweet and dissolves on your tongue in split second. The unusual texture from rice noodles, enchanting rose flavour and grassy yet nutty pistachios will immediately transform you to a warm Iranian summer’s day.
Farmer's Morning
milkwheatgrasscocoa nibs
Refreshing just as dawn, Farmer’s Morning will make you feel as if walking through a freshly mown lawn. Mildly sweet the wheatgrass is good for your body because of its high levels of chlorophyll - an important blood builder. Milk and cocoa nibs will round the taste with sweetness of cocoa and creaminess of milk.
Goofy Twin
tamarindgingerwhite chocolate
Deliciously tangy and one of the most highly prized natural foods in South Asia, the tamarind – the melodic name of which comes from the Persian "tamar-I-hind," meaning "date of India" – is gaining recognition and appreciation throughout the world. Tamarind is sour with a hint of bitterness. With paired it with the pungent ginger, which through many centuries and throughout civilisations was considered to an aphrodisiac. It heats your insides, stimulates circulation while its intense scent wakens olfactory glands. To find the right balance between spicy, sour and sweet we added white chocolate, which brings together all the ingredients in an awakening yet soothing combination.
In Love
burned milk
Burned milk. Each of us share different associations of moments, places, people or time of the day when we have encountered the incredibly comforting taste or scent of burned milk. Whether at midnight when you couldn’t lay in your bed at rest and had your loved one prepare you a glass of warm milk, or from childhood when you went to the kitchen to find your mother preparing a porridge with hot milk. On a more scientific level, burned food is called the Maillard reaction - a coveted cooking phenomenon. As food browns and caramelizes, amino acids and sugars are rearranged, producing complex, savory flavors. This chemical reaction gives food a savory, umami, and—when it really gets black—bitter flavor. Therefore, in defence of those who absolutely love tastes that are crustier or darker from being burned - burning food does enhance flavour.
Madam Naaktgeboren
lemonasparaguslapsang
Asparagus is considered as one of the first veggies that will show up in the spring garden and also a sign of an upcoming season of bounty. It is also a nutritious vegetable that is packed with great loads of fibers and antioxidants. Perhaps the earliest depiction of asparagus existed on an Egyptian frieze dating back to 3,000 BC. We paired it with lemon and Lapsang - a Chinese black tea native to the mountainous Wu Yi region, in the province of Fujian. Its dark twisted leaves make up this wonderful tea, but what sets it apart from all other teas is its amazing smoky flavour and fragrance.
Oaxaca Vagabond
watermelonrhubarbmezcal
This fermented, savoury and slightly salty wander of pickled watermelon and rhubarb will be an unexpected experience for your taste buds. Meanwhile the alcoholic drink Mezcal is incredibly complex and contains a full spectrum of flavours that reflect everything invested in making it. With mezcal, roasted agave is being fermented in open air vats using airborne yeasts. Smoke flavours come from molecules released during combustion and are often expressed in the mezcal as notes of chili pepper, chocolate, ash, wood and fire.
Party Crusher
soy sauce caramel
There are many varieties available to satisfy a sweet tooth, but one that melts the hearts of many is rich, creamy caramel. We invited one more guest to attend the party - the soy sauce. Soy sauce is one of the world's oldest condiments and has been used in China for more than 2,500 years. It is made from fermenting a mixture of mashed soybeans, salt, and enzymes. In combination with caramel, its flavor enhancing properties, or umami, of the soy extract are recognized to help blend and balance taste.
Polly Wants a Cracker
greek yoghurtpeanut butterelderflower
What happens when you put together greek yoghurt, peanut butter and elderflower in one flavour? You get a very creamy & dreamy powerhouse of nutrition! The creamy and rich yogurt contains high levels of acidity which makes it easy for your body to absorb nutrients, while peanut butter, rich in heart-healthy fats, is sweet and nutty. For an exotic twist we added elderflower with notes of fresh hay and mild anise.
Secret Agent
rooibosgingercocoa nibs
Rooibos is a plant grown in a small mountainous area of Cederberg in South Africa’s Western Cape. Fresh rooibos leaves are green when first picked, but change their colour to brick red and their flavour to woody/earthy during the fermentation process. Adding milk brings out the herb’s deep warmth that we accentuated even more by adding ginger root. Cacao butter infused with chocolate nibs give it a rich creamy base, dotted with small bites of chocolate crunch.
Smiling Bob
watermelonblack pepper
It’s well known that pepper is one of the oldest spices used in cooking (dating back to 2000 years ago) and is preached for enhancing flavours. Furthermore, the king of spices promotes weight loss, improves digestion and boost metabolism, making this the perfect match with the sweet and juicy watermelon. Watermelon consists 92% of water, doesn’t consist of any fat becoming the go-to refresher for the summer months. Smiling Bob will be there to hydrate and make you experience watermelon in a way that you have never experienced it before.
What’s the Story?
carrotgingerorange
What’s the Story is a refreshing, slightly spicy and punchy flavour combination. Orange is its signature colour due to high concentration of the sweet carrot and sour oranges in the flavour making this flavour a powerhouse of vitamins. To awaken you from the head to toes, we added some ginger in order to tickle your senses, warm up your mind and keep you moving through the rest of the day!
Young Adult
parmesanchocolate
Parmesan cheese has long been a favourite staple in Italian cuisine. Whether grated on pasta or eaten whole, this delicious cheese emanates from the Provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, and Modena, also across Bologna and Mantua. Made using unpasteurised milk, the finished cheese has a hard texture and is a great source of daily vitamins, calcium and minerals. We paired it with chocolate, which shares key aromatic compounds with parmesan. Since both of the flavours on a molecular level create and outstanding balance, the combination becomes a unique experience bringing out the best of both worlds.
Spunky Bob
strawberryparmesanchocolate
Spunky Snob is an adventure into unusual flavour combinations that work together on a level beyond the visible eye. Parmesan cheese is arguably one of the finest things on the planet. And so is chocolate and strawberries. On molecular level chocolate shares significant amount of flavour compounds with parmesan. With strawberry and milk as the base of the ice cream we play with expectations and familiarity found in unexpected places.
Out of Prison
green bananagrasschocolate
It is clear that a fruit is a powerhouse of nutrients when it can be consumed in both - its raw and ripe form. Green bananas are full of fibre, it’s loaded with potassium, nutrients and enables slow release of sugar. Out of Prison aims to bring you the best of the best in one go - wheatgrass provides you with earthiness in flavour and antioxidants and vitamins A, C, and E. Meanwhile the sweet chocolate lowers cholesterol and blood flow to the brain.
Wandering Hermine
mascarponelavenderhoney
The buttery goodness of mascarpone is silky and rich in texture. We infused lavender in milk to extract its sweet and slightly citrusy aroma but also the powers to reduce stress and improve your mood. Lastly, we pulled both flavours together with a wildflower honey and created an aromatic gelato that soothes slowly with its gentle flavour.
Moody Ballerina
sour creamrhubarbhibiscus
The best of two worlds - sour cream combines the richness of cream with a slight tanginess of fermentation. Rhubarb, a Siberian native is a double agent. Under its poisonous leaves it hides pretty pink stalks, that when cooked reveal the sweetness of candied strawberries with the freshness of an apple. We spiced the creamy and light gelato with red hibiscus flowers that add a little extra swoosh of colour and berry flavour.
Tipsy Oligarch
whiskeybacon
Tipsy Oligarch is a flavour combining the best of both worlds - the one of desserts and the one of savoury experiences. Crunchy bacon delivers hints of umami, a saltiness developed during the curing processes and a little bit of caramelised sweetness. To bring together the savoury and sweet goodness, we combined it with a pungent and smokey whiskey from Isle.
Twilight Sword
black sesamemisocaramel
Twilight Sword is a flavour that combines Western and Eastern culinary traditions. Milk provides creamines, comfort of familiar taste and helps to get acquainted with less common flavours of black sesame and miso caramel. Black sesame is one of the oldest oilseed crops known, domesticated well over 3000 years ago. It has rich and nutty flavour and has plenty of nutritional benefits. We combined black sesame with another unusual ingredient, miso, a traditional Japanese seasoning that is produced by fermenting soybeans with salt. We use miso to make our salty caramel to enhance sweet flavours and experience soothing working of milk.
Bonkey Musiness
bananahazelnutcoffee
Velvety sweet with extremely potent flavour, bananas are rich in fiber and resistant starch, making them a perfect food for our friendly gut bacteria. Bananas owe their unique aroma to a component called isoamyl acetate, found in several other fruits and in a bee sting. We paired it with coffee and hazelnut to create a deep buttery flavour with a hint of spicy and earthy. Bonkey Musiness is here to waste no time!
Boozy Alice
boletewhiskeyhazelnut
Boozy Alice is for those well-deserved, restful and slightly tipsy work after-hours. For this we have created a combination of bolete, whiskey and hazelnut. Bolete is a versatile mushroom found ubiquitously in the temperate, highland forests of USA, Europe, Siberia and China. In combination with the pungent whiskey and deep, buttery and spicy hazelnut, this combination will set your senses on a journey to a much blissful ground.
Skinny Boxer
sorrelsour creamblue cheese
The citrusy flavoured sorrel is a spring season green leafy vegetable and is popular all over the Europe for its nutrition. Sorrel contains oxalic acid which is responsible for the acidic, kiwi, wild strawberry or lemon-like taste. This characteristic has earned it the name "sour grass". To balance out the sourness of the sorrel we added the salty and creamy Stilton blue-veined cheese and sour cream.
Cockadoodledoo
coffeeorangebrownie
Wakey, wakey! Cockadoodledo is our flavour mix of comfort, familiarity and awakening. While oranges will tickle your senses with their delightfully refreshing taste and flavour - a coffee, the ancient drink that has been drunk for over two thousand years, will activate your brain function, memory, mood and energy levels! To make it all oh, so delicious, we infiltrated brownies for that sweetness and chocolate-y magic.
Cold Shower
eucalyptuspeppermintcucumber
Cold Shower is cold shower in form of a sorbet. The difference is that you don’t have to stand underneath it, however the effect is the same. The incredibly aromatic Eucalyptus in combination with fresh and minty peppermint will awaken you and prepare your for the day. Meanwhile cucumber provides you with the daily dose of vitamin B, Iron and Magnesium.
Disarmed Heart
beetrootmascarponecocoa
Disarmed Heart is a gentle, earthy and somewhat sensual flavour. The earthy beetroot contains betaine, a substance that relaxes the mind and is used in other forms to treat depression. Meanwhile researchers have found that contrast sensitivity and visual acuity were higher two hours after eating a dark chocolate. To balance out the flavour playing with the sweet and bitter, we mixed everything with some creamy mascarpone making this combination truly a disarmed heart.
Dorian Gray
datewalnutsage
Dates, touted by whole foods enthusiasts, is a powerhouse of minerals, energy and fiber. The leathery and caramel-y treat has a sweet spot in history since the tree and its fruit have so many uses — from food to building materials — the date palm is known as the “tree of life” in the Middle East, and it’s the national symbol of Saudi Arabia and Israel. To add sharp and tangy tones we mixed it with hazelnut and sage - admired for centuries for its medicinal as well as culinary uses. All parts of sage plant have a strong scent and a warm, bitter, somewhat astringent taste, due to the volatile oil contained in the tissues. Its warm and musky essence will remain as the last touch to our Dorian Grey.
Foreign Bride
corncoconutvanilla
It is known by everyone that sweet corn is a loved and delicious snack yet additionally - it is also full of healthy antioxidants. We paired it with the creamy coconut for a wonderful texture and the fragrant vanilla for a fruity and floral touch, which makes our Foreign Bride an over-seas experience.
Hairy Tooth
kalekiwialmond
Hairy Tooth is our green and golden match of kale, almond and kiwi. The superfood kale stands out in the group for it being high in nutrient lutein, which helps to keep the eyes and vision healthy. Almond gives the whole combination that nutty and sophisticated touch of flavour, while the fuzzy, sour and fresh kiwi keeps you high in vitamins and minerals.
Last Round
hazelnutasparagusvanilla
Asparagus is considered as one of the first veggies that will show up in the spring garden and also a sign of an upcoming season of bounty and is a firm vegetable with squashy notes, and hints of broccoli. It is also a nutritious vegetable that is packed with great loads of fibres and antioxidants. We couldn’t imagine better compagnions than the deep, buttery and earthy hazelnut and the warm, floral vanilla to transform asparagus into a dessert you never knew you needed in your life.
Night Out
popcorn
Whether you are building up an anticipation for a night to come or getting into your pyjamas for movies and a quiet one in - we have you covered. Night Out is celebration of a flavour that is loved by many - the classic salty popcorn. Since materialised in ice cream form the flavour comes with benefits - its gentle sweetness. This makes night out a two-in-one. Salty and a bit of sweet popcorn in shape of an ice cream.
Offshore Affair
apple cidertomatobasil
The definition of festivity becomes a flavour in our Offshore Affair. The meaty and sweet tomato in combination with the aromatic and peppery basil is accompanied by a high quality apple cider creating a tingling and full bodied flavour experience.
Peeping Tom
black sesamestrawberrycoconut
Black sesame is one of the oldest oilseed crops known, domesticated well over 3000 years ago. These seeds are primarily a great source of copper, manganese, calcium, iron, phosphorus and magnesium. Furthermore, the black sesame seed was viewed as a symbol for immortality in many ancient cultures. We combined it with the sweet strawberry and the creamy coconut to create a dessert that will refresh and sooth you, as well as provide with a wonderful texture to activate your senses.
Sailor on Diet
cherrycranberryblack tea
Amazingly delicious, cherry fruit is packed with full of health-benefiting nutrients and unique antioxidants. Cherries are one of the very low calorie fruits that contain melatonin which helps to fight against harmful toxins. Jus as cherries, also cranberries are a powerhouse of vitamins and nutrients. The sweet cherry with the punchy cranberry work their ways through your flavour experience leaving the black tea as a smoky aftertaste.
Silk Saudade
olive oilmelonsea salt
By definition saudade is a state of profound melancholy that carries a repressed knowledge that the object of longing might never return. To cherish the feeling from which some of the most beautiful poetry ever written arose, we created a flavour. The subtle nuances of the fruitiness, the grassiness and the spiciness of our Portugese extra virgin olive oil become enhanced in gelato form. We pair it with melon, which is high in nutrition and a pinch of salt to round the taste and make the icy dessert more three-dimensional.
We come in Peace
butterfly pea / lemon / pitaya
Native from tropical Asia, the Butterfly Pea flower is a plant used in Ayurvedic medicine to improve mental health. Its seeds are edible when tender and the plant is famous for its signature blue colour. Combined with pitaya, also known as - dragon fruit, We Come in Peace becomes a gentle flavour combination carrying the signature blue of Butterfly Pea. To add a refreshing twist, we mixed in some lemon, which makes the blue of Butterfly Pea become purple while enjoying the dessert.
Wild Thing
avocadococoachilli
Wild Thing is a luscious dark chocolate sorbet. The chocolate has a velvety and rich flavour and sesame seeds enhance the texture and sweetness with their delicate and nutty taste. Meanwhile chili tickles activates your senses for an intricate experience.
Curious Drifter
arugulastrawberryfeta
The combination of peppery arugula, sweet strawberries and robust feta cheese may come across quite unusual. However, it is the perfect combination of summer flavours that is vibrant and keeps things light yet exciting.
Fire Walk with Me
strawberrysriracha
Ten years ago unknown and exotic, today it’s hard to find an eater who doesn’t use Sriracha in a dish or as a condiment. Hot and spicy plus sweet and garlic-y Sriracha pretty is claimed to enhance any dish. We dared to to play with sweet and savoury by adding the juicy and fruity strawberry creating a dessert that is also an experience of senses.
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