Jenny’s Ice Cream: A Culinary Journey from Grief to Creativity

Jenny shares with Khaosod English the inspiration behind each of her unique ice cream flavors.

BANGKOK — They say ice cream makes everything better, and after tasting Jenny’s creations, it’s easy to agree. Jenny, a talented Chinese chef, has crafted a unique collection of ice cream flavors in collaboration with Baan Dusit restaurants.

She designed 12 exclusive flavors, each tied to a specific restaurant: six for Dusit Gourmet, two for Nomada, two for Benjarong, and two for Thien Duong. Drawing inspiration from her travels and dining experiences at these four Baan Dusit restaurants, Jenny has created flavors that reflect her culinary journey and creativity.

Jenny, a Chinese chef from Beijing, brings over 26 years of expertise in French cuisine, pastries, and Italian gelato to her creations. Having trained at a Thai cooking school in Chiang Mai since 1993, Jenny’s culinary journey is rooted in love.

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After marrying a Thai man, tragedy struck when her husband passed away. Despite this loss, Jenny found a profound connection to Thailand, choosing to make it her home. This deep bond inspired her to channel her passion into crafting unique ice cream flavors, transforming her grief into creative works of art.

Among the 12 flavors we sampled, the most unusual yet impressive was the Alpaca Ice Cream. Jenny shared with Khaosod English that her inspiration came from a pre-pandemic trip to Peru, where she had an unexpected encounter with an alpaca.

As she tried to take a photo with the animal, it accidentally kissed her on the lips—a moment that sparked the idea for this unique flavor. The ice cream, made primarily from nuts and cheese, has a grassy aroma reminiscent of what alpacas graze on, creating a flavor unlike anything we’ve ever tasted before.

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Another standout flavor is the Lotus Sherbet, inspired by Jenny’s love for Vietnamese cuisine, known for its use of lotus flowers. With the first bite, the sherbet delivers a refreshing sensation, making it the perfect palate cleanser after a Vietnamese meal. Like all her creations, the Lotus Sherbet is available exclusively at one of Baan Dusit’s restaurants, adding a unique touch to each dining experience.

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Jenny shared with Khaosod English the inspiration behind each of her unique ice cream flavors, all influenced by the distinct identities of the four Baan Dusit restaurants. At Dusit Gourmet, an all-day dining venue, she offers a variety of fruit-based ice creams.

Nomada, a South American restaurant, features flavors inspired by her travels to Peru, including the Alpaca Kiss Ice Cream. For Benjarong, a Thai cuisine pioneer, Jenny created flavors like Foi Thong and Khanom Jeen Sao Nam, drawing on the key ingredients of coconut milk and lemongrass used in traditional Thai curry pastes.

Thien Duong, the Vietnamese restaurant, posed a challenge due to its vegetable-centric menu. However, Jenny found inspiration in Vietnamese artwork that often features lotus flowers, leading to the creation of the refreshing Lotus Sherbet.

Additionally, she crafted a Khao Mao flavor, inspired by puffed rice, a signature dish of Thang Long-Hanoi. This dish, celebrated for its rich history and often mentioned in Vietnamese literary works, symbolizes the deep connection between food and the cultural heritage of Hanoi. Both flavors are exclusive to Thien Duong.

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Jenny revealed that her journey into ice cream-making began after the tragic loss of her husband, who passed away due to side effects from the COVID vaccine. This heartbreaking event led her to settle permanently in Thailand, a country she had always loved. Immersing in cooking and baking, she channeled her passion into creating what would become ‘Jenny’s Ice Cream’ (IG: jennys_icecream), a brand reflecting her resilience, creativity, and love for Thailand.

Experience the unique flavors of Jenny’s ice cream across all four Baan Dusit restaurants – Dusit Gourmet, Benjarong, Nomada, and Thien Duong, starting from October 5 until the end of November During this period, an art exhibition will also be featured, showcasing beautiful postcards designed by Jenny’s artist friends, each representing a different ice cream flavor. As a special touch, customers will receive one of these exclusive postcards as a souvenir with their ice cream.

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