WHILE NO ONE’S denying Kohr Bros. is the iconic soft-serve of Philadelphia, we must respectfully announce that there’s a new twist in town. “I’m not a pastry chef, and I don’t claim to be one,” says Michael Schulson, chef and owner of Izakaya in Atlantic City and, since last November, the sleek and sexy Sampan in Midtown Village. “For dessert, I just wanted to do something really cool.” The playful flavors—Watermelon Jolly Rancher, Strawberry Pop Tart, Burnt Toast & Nutella—dispensed from Sampan’s Stoelting soft-serve machine are really cool, literally and figuratively. Where does the chef find inspiration? “I’ll walk down the supermarket aisles and just grab things,” he says. But his three-and-a-half-year-old son Davin is another muse. “You’d be surprised how many flavors are [made] because of him. Swedish Fish, Animal Crackers, Cheddar Cheese Goldfi sh… but he only takes one spoonful and he’s done,” Schulson laughs. We’d gladly cool off with the leftovers. 124 S. 13th St., 215-732-3501; sampanphilly.com
