I am a firm believer in innovation. All of the greatest inventions were originally innovations to tired and menial processes. Tired of wax dripping all over your floor? Thanks, lightbulb. Can’t bear to think about finishing the dishes in your sink? Thanks, dishwasher. Stressed about maintaining a smooth, consistent surface across your ice rink? Thanks, Frank Zamboni.
I could go on. And I will.
Just kidding, I’m too lazy to come up with more. All of this is a set up to say that sometimes things are taken too far. Look at the self-check-out line conundrum plaguing grocery and convenience stores. Sure, it’s faster, but exclusively relying on it leads to me accidentally punching in elephant garlic instead of regular garlic, which is approximately 200% more expensive, and I’m too sheepish to wave an attendant over to correct my error. So I just eat the cost and pay $12 for three bulbs of garlic.
Okay relax, this happened once.
Which brings us to today’s sundae: IKEA’s Swedish Meatball Sundae. It’s exactly what it sounds like, a sundae with meat as a topping! I’ve heard of bacon on maple bars before, but meat with ice cream? This is a new flavor combination I simply had to try.
Quality of Toppings
The meatballs were comforting and warm throughout. A firm texture on the outside with a soft bite through the middle, these meatball were cooked (read: reheated) to perfection. The sundae also featured IKEA’s famous lingonberry jam, with sweet and acidic notes that balanced perfectly with the meatballs.
Quality of Fudge
Here’s where things go down hill really fast. This was not fudge. In fact, I’d hazard a guess that it wasn’t chocolate at all! The “fudge” was a savory sauce, perhaps a gravy, which overpowered the sweetness from the lingonberry—the only ingredient that knew it was supposed to be a part of a dessert item.
Not to mention the ice cream, which tasted distinctly vegetal.
Level of Comfort Ordering the Sundae
The act of ordering felt perfectly normal. It was the act of seeing what they had in store for me that got me sweating. I should’ve known better—seeing the sundae cup under the same heat lamp as the hot dogs and pizza was surely a sign this wasn’t ordinary ice cream.
Would I Rather Get a McDonald’s Sundae?
Of course! I’m sorry IKEA, but stick to innovating furniture, not desserts.
Final Score: 1.4/10
…but if I were to rate this as a food separate from the other sundaes on this blog: 7.8/10
Hot for Fudge 