Categories
2020 news

Luneta Ice Cream gives Pinoys in Europe a sweet taste of home

Luneta Ice Cream gives Pinoys in Europe a sweet taste of home

By  Aleeyah Jowen Peñafiel | March 7, 2020 

 
Luneta Ice Cream
Pinoy flavors of Luneta Ice Cream Available in Europe

Luneta Ice Cream, a Dutch company with Filipino roots based in Hoofddorp, The Netherlands, is giving overseas Pinoys in Europe a sweet taste of home.

The Pinoy-taste in ice cream is becoming more and more popular in the Netherlands and is already available in Belgium, United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Lithuania, and Sweden!

The memories of summers in the Philippines are what inspired the couple Dennis Rogacion and Rhea Topacio to come up with a line of artisan ice cream and called it after the Luneta, also known as Rizal Park, a historical park located in the heart of Manila and famous for a perfect destination for family days, weekend hangouts, and couple budget dating. Luneta is a free park that has colorful fountain shows every night. Around the area are free museums where you can visit while appreciating Pinoy culture.

“We want to offer everyone, Filipinos and Europeans alike, the kind of food that makes someone feel good. Our products give you that cozy feeling, whether you are having a bad day or enjoying a good time. For our Filipino customers, it gives them a sense of being home, a reminder of how home tastes like.” says Rogacion.

With flavors such as ube (purple yam) and Philippine mango macapuno (coconut), Kapeng Barako (coffee), Pandan, Rocky Road, Classic Vanilla, Halo-halo, Banana, Melon and Lychee, and Pineapple, Luneta Ice Cream not only arouses your appetite but also reminds one of the beautiful time of growing up in the Philippines.

“Our ice creams are made with no additional artificial emulsifiers or stabilizers. Most flavors are hard to find and some are even unique to the European palate. You could say that this is our way of introducing the goodness of Filipino food to the Europeans albeit in a very sweet way,” says Topacio.

Rocky Road, Buco Panda, Halo-halo, Mango, Ube Macapuno are the bestsellers of Luneta Ice Cream.

The Filipino couple makes sure that the Luneta Ice Cream is visible in every food festival in The Netherlands to make it more accessible to the public.

“We want to promote Filipino cuisine to other nationalities apart from the Filipinos through our product. The Dutch are willing to try new things. This is good for the whole Filipino community because it makes us proud of our heritage,” says Rogacion in an interview with ABS-CBN.

The home-made Luneta Ice Cream is already making its name in the competitive ice cream market with Luneta Ice Cream grabbing two National Prizes – the 2020 Food Truck of the Year Award (Ice Cream category) and Gold Award for excellence in product and service at the De Nederlandse HORECA (Hotels, Restaurants, and Café) Prijzen.

The Pinoy ice cream is available in the biggest Asian supermarket in the Netherlands. After expanding outside The Netherlands, Topacio and Rogacion want to be present in Middle East and to be available in many countries where Filipinos are scattered and to bring it back where it should have started.

“Love and passion in what you do. Maintain, and eventually develop, your unique selling proposition. Have a realizable vision. Empathize with your customers—bring them happiness, not just a product. Plan with a balanced, idealistic but realistic mind. Think outside the box. Deliver beyond what is expected. Life lessons talaga ito, ever since,” says Topacio as she shares her most valuable lesson.

If you want to get a sweet taste of home, Luneta Ice Cream will be at Puremarkt Park Frankendael Amsterdam on April 26th to August 30th. And on June 14th, Luneta Ice Cream Foodtruck is coming again to Antwerp for the Festivals of the Philippines-Independence Day Celebration. Visit them and enjoy Luneta Ice Cream’s Unique Filipino and Asian Ice Creams, Gluten-free, lactose-free and vegetarian Sorbet, and the very colorful and special Halo-halo.

Pinoy Halo-Halo made it to the list Most Popular Asian Desserts of Taste Atlas with a mix of white and red beans, nata de coco, kaong, Jack fruit, banana and milk. Watch how Rogacion and Topacio make this all-time Filipino dessert as they also talk about their famous Ube Ice Cream and the story behind their ice cream business.

luneta ice cream halo-halo
Hire us for your special events

Take us with you in your special moments​

We will bring you that tropical feeling with our food trailer featuring our ice creams in cones or cups. You can also request halo-halo (a special Filipino snack or dessert) and Guapito Beer for the evening.  Make your wedding, birthday, or gathering extra special with Luneta Ice Cream. Send an email to info@lunetaicecream.com formore information. 

Available on Weekends except Holidays

from 11am to 7pm

Ask your favorite Asian or Filipino store in Europe about our products.

Do you want to be a reseller?

Send us an email via info@lunetaicecream.com

Luneta Ice Cream® ( A Product of Pamana World B. V.)   |   The Netherlands 

Categories
2020 news

Filipino Food Truck ‘Luneta Ice Cream’ Wins Two Awards In The Netherlands

PHOTO: FACEBOOK/LUNETAICECREAM

Whatever the weather, we’re always down for ice cream. Be it in a cone, on a stick, or sandwiched between cookies—we just can’t say no!

We’ve got a soft spot for sorbetes, too. The yummy Pinoy-style ice cream that is usually served on top of sugar cones or between two pieces of pan de sal gives us ~nostalgia~ of our childhood.

But this cold treat is beloved not just by Filipinos now—the Dutch love them, too!
The Filipino food truck “Luneta Ice Cream” recently won two awards through public voting at the De Nederlandse HORECA (Hotels, Restaurants and Café) Prijzen: “Foodtruck of the Year” for the Ice Cream category and “Gold Award for Excellence in Product and Service.”

They are “the first Filipino-Dutch ice cream brand in Europe [that was started] in 2015 by couple Rhea Topacio and Dennis Rogacion, [which] features delicious flavors of well-loved Filipino desserts in frozen goodness,” according to their Facebook page.

They offer both unique and fan favorite ice cream flavors such as Pandan, Rocky Road, Philippine MangoUbe, Macapuno, Coffee, Melon, Pineapple, Lychee, and Banana.

Try to look for this Pinoy ice cream brand if you’re visiting Europe soon! Aside from the Netherlands, they’re already available in BelgiumDenmarkAustriaUnited Kingdom, and Luxembourg.

Categories
2020 news

Filipino “sorbetes” truck wins two national awards in Netherlands

By Gabriela Baron

A Filipino sorbetes (ice cream) truck selling mango-flavored ice cream has won two national awards in the Netherlands.

(Luneta Ice Cream Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)

(Luneta Ice Cream Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)

Luneta Ice Cream bagged the “2020 Food Truck of the Year” for the Ice Cream category and the “Gold Award for Excellence in Product and Service”.

“We are super happy with your votes, shares, and for the all-out support of everyone all over the world. Your super support and cheers made us winners,” Luneta Ice Cream wrote in a Facebook caption.

The company was launched by Rhea Topacio and Dennis Rogacion in 2015. The couple first started selling their ice cream only to friends and families in the Netherlands.

Today, Luneta Ice Cream is available in 30 selected retailers and restaurants in the Netherlands, Belgium, United Kingdom, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Norway, Sweden, Luxembourg, and Lithuania.

The food truck’s ice cream is available in different flavors such as ube (purple yam), pandan, kapeng barako (Batangas coffee), mais (corn), mango, and macapuno (coconut sport).

“We are excited to see more of you this year and we are hoping to tour with your favorite Luneta Ice Cream in your country soon,” it added.

The De Nederlandse HORECA (Hotels, Restaurants, and Cafe) Prijzen recognizes the best businesses in the Netherlands through public voting.

Sorbetes, sometimes called “dirty ice cream” in the Philippines, is the country’s traditional variation of ice cream. It is usually served in small wafers, sugar cones, and bread buns.