Adelaide Food Central was invited to the Grand Opening of Movenpick which launched its first Adelaide gallery on the corner of Hindley and Leigh Street. The new Swiss inspired dessert destination can be found on one of Adelaide’s most popular thoroughfares, and has ample seating for over 80 customers.

Inspired by Swiss restaurants in the 1960’s, Movenpick’s recipes are made from the finest natural ingredients. All the ice cream is made in Switzerland with no artificial additives, flavourings or colours. Movenpick has 20 locations across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and now South Australia, and their ice cream is sold in almost 40 countries worldwide.

To set the scene for the finest Swiss ice cream, the dining tables were decorated with logs and candles, transporting you to a chalet in the Swiss Alps. A large picture of the Swiss Alps was hung over one of the windows completing the experience.

The Iced Caramelita Ice Cream Drink consists of the popular Movenpick Caramelita ice cream and fresh milk. It’s then served with a scoop of the Caramelita ice cream, whipped cream and nuts. The lovely chewy bits of caramel inside the ice cream work perfectly with the crunchy texture of the nuts. The milk mixed with the ice cream reduces the creaminess and sweetness of the drink somewhat, but it is still delightful and refreshing.

All guests were served a custom tasting plate which consisted of a Banana Smoothie, Raspberry Sparkling Sorbet, Pistachio Macaroon Ice Cream, Mango Sorbet, Creme Brulee Ice Cream and Swiss Chocolate Ice Cream.

My favourites were the Mango Sorbet, Creme Brulee and Swiss Chocolate Ice Creams.

The Mango Sorbet was simply smooth and velvety. The natural sweetness of the mango puree is quite prominent and the morsels of fruit flesh add a delicate contrast to this fragrant and delightful treat.

The Creme Brulee ice cream is made up of Swiss cream and a hint of caramel. The ice cream is warm and creamy, and the caramel sauce makes it ever so sumptuous.

The Swiss Chocolate ice cream is one of their best sellers and it combines the two things the Swiss are famous for; cream and chocolate. The use of real Swiss chocolate adds plenty of depth, and the Maracaibo cocoa adds a lovely crunchy texture with every bite. This ice cream will take you to heaven and back.

Of course, the Movenpick experience wouldn’t be complete without trying some more of the 24 flavours on offer.

The Maple Walnut ice cream was certainly a favourite with it’s combination of Swiss ice cream and maple syrup. The caramelised walnuts add sweetness and lovely crunchy texture.

The Black Currant and Cream is a combination of panna ice cream and a velvet textured blackcurrant sorbet. Using berries harvested in France, the sorbet has this intense violet colour, and the blackcurrant puree brings out both the vivid flavour and acidity. The exquisite fruit aroma is refreshing and a unique offering.

Movenpick have taken the Swiss Roll to the next level by adding chocolate sauce, strawberries, nuts and ice cream. The sponge cake is soft and delicate, and the creamy centre is light and fluffy. The nuts add a delightful crunchy texture to this classic Swiss favourite.

The Chocolate Waffles are freshly baked and served with Swiss Chocolate and Stracciatella ice creams, drizzled with decadent chocolate sauce and sprinkled with white chocolate shavings. The waffles are firm and the flavours are subtle, however, this is balanced by the sweetness of the ice creams and chocolate sauce.

The Chocolate Fondant was exceptional. The exterior was firm and had a soft moist spongey centre. The hot fudge sauce was simply oozing out from the centre just like lava from an active volcano. Quite simply one of the best I’ve had.

The Pavlova had nice firm shell with a soft chewy interior. The addition of chocolate increased the level of sweetness, and the nuts added a nice crunchy texture. A good take on an Australian favourite.

The Apple Strudel had a lovely crisp and flaky exterior. The apple filling was warm and moist, and the addition of caramel sauce heightened the level of sweetness. The caramelised nuts added a lovely crunchy texture to this classic German favourite.

The people in the eastern states and around the world have been enjoying Movenpick ice cream for quite some time. With many global brands now recognising Adelaide as a place to do business, the people in this state finally get to enjoy the finest Swiss ice cream on offer.

All desserts and drinks were provided free of charge.

WHERE: 6 Leigh St, Adelaide