Quirky frozen treats at the Ice Bar

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Blueberry and Korean pear pop with Calpico gel. (Clarissa Wei / For The Times)

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Strawberry and mango pop with basil garnish and pico de gallo spice. (Clarissa Wei / For The Times)

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Eugene Kang putting on the finishing touches on his strawberry and mango pop. (Clarissa Wei / For The Times)

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Owner Eugene Kang decorates a banana nutella popsicle. (Clairssa Wei / For The Times)

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Ice Bar offers sodas from around the world. (Clarissa Wei / For The Times)

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Owner Eugene Kang in his Ice Bar in West Covina. (Clarissa Wei / For The Times)

By Clarissa Wei

Aug. 14, 2013 11:25 AM PT

Name of restaurant: The Ice Bar. A dessert shop that sells frozen dessert bars.

Chef: Eugene Mar. He fell in love with food at a young age, went to UC Riverside to study business and is pursuing his dream of starting a restaurant. The Ice Bar is his first. Max Boonthanakit, a former pastry cook at Ink and Bazaar helped Mar develop the gels that he uses in the bars.

Concept: A boutique dessert shop with high-end, quirky pops. They also have Fosselman’s ice cream and specialty drinks from around the world.

What dish represents the restaurant, and why? The blueberry and Korean pear pop because it’s a combination of American and Asian-inspired flavors. All the ingredients are made in-house the day before. The aforementioned pop is decorated by a whimsical blend of blueberry and Calpico gel. It’s garnished with lemon thyme and Thai basil and jasmine powder is sprinkled on last like pixie dust.

Who’s at the next table? Local high school wanderers, the occasional college student and avid Instagrammers who spotted the hash-tagged creations the day before.

Appropriate for...: A great alternative to traditional ice cream, a quick solution to a blistering hot day or a post-dinner dessert.

Uh-oh...: Popular pops like the nutella banana tend to run out during peak hours. Plus, West Covina can be a little isolated.

Service: The Ice Bar can be short-staffed at times but Mar is always there.

What are you drinking? A cooled can of Calpico. The Ice Bar sports a sweet repertoire of unique drinks ranging from Galco’s root beer to soda from France.

Info: 550 S. Glendora Ave., West Covina, CA 91790. (626) 338-8770. (Closed Mondays)

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The Scouting Form is a quick look at restaurants worth a visit. Scouts were selected by restaurant critic Jonathan Gold, who may or may not agree with a single word.

[For the Record: An earlier version of this post misstated the chef’s last name. His name is Eugene Mar.]