Floral Face-Off – Rose Macaron v. Ice Cream Sandwich

From baklava to Turkish delight, rose is a staple ingredient in Middle Eastern desserts. But beyond pistachio and other nut combinations, it doesn’t typically venture into mash-up territory. Its flavor is, after all, quite distinct and unfamiliar to many American consumers. But two menu concepts from Best of Flavor reveal fresh entry points via strategic ingredient combinations.

At New York-based kosher steakhouse, Reserve Cut, the Pink Lychee Macaron wholeheartedly embraces the rose with rose-infused vegan gelato and gel garnish. The dominant floral notes are balanced by strawberry and pink lychee, bringing enough fruity sweetness to win more traditional palates—it doesn’t hurt that the super-pink plate could be a case study in artistic presentations.

Meanwhile at Atlanta-based Rumi’s Kitchen, the Persian Ice Cream Sandwich combines rosewater with a typical companion (pistachio) but introduces a less common pairing in the form of saffron. All three flavors are foundational to Persian cuisine though saffron is rarer in sweets. To make the trio of flavors more approachable, they are presented in a beloved and nostalgic format: namely, the ice cream sandwich.

Read on to see how these two rose-forward contenders square off.

For as much as these desserts share in terms of ingredients and sandwich-like builds, they take two very different but equally winning paths to present rose in a fresh light. Reserve Cut infuses its offering with Asian flare (pink lychee) in a classic French carrier, while Rumi’s Kitchen leans hard into its Persian roots by introducing saffron into the rose-pistachio duo. Ultimately, both blossom through complex flavors, layered builds and vibrant presentations.