STRAWBERRY, chocolate and vanilla ice creams had better watch out for the new kid on the block - oyster flavour.The recipe is the result of mixing the ideas of Master Chef Mark Baumann and Jane Hadley of Essex-based Hadley's Ice Cream in a bid to come up with something a bit different for Valentine's Day.

STRAWBERRY, chocolate and vanilla ice creams had better watch out for the new kid on the block - oyster flavour.

The recipe is the result of mixing the ideas of Master Chef Mark Baumann and Jane Hadley of Essex-based Hadley's Ice Cream in a bid to come up with something a bit different for Valentine's Day.

After toying with the idea of a Brussels sprout flavour for the festive period, the pair decided Colchester Native oysters had to be dish of the day next week.

Although it may sound like an original idea, the ice cream was reported to be a firm favourite with the first president of America, George Washington.

Yesterday the pair hit the streets of Braintree to find out what people thought of the dessert, which was presented in an oyster shell, with a side serving of caviar and salmon, for the full effect.

Mr Baumann said most people who tried it had enjoyed it - although it was not to everyone's liking as one lady spat her's out.

In the interests of balanced and objective journalism, the EADT tested the product and discovered different was defiantly not a bad thing and gave it two thumbs up.

And when it comes to ice cream, few people can match the Italians - so when John Marsala signalled his approval, it was clear they must have got something right.

The Italian said: “It is lovely, I would certainly buy it. It certainly makes a change from the usual sweet flavours.”

Ian Wallace, of Silver End, near Braintree, said he did not think “it was too bad”.

“The flavour of the salmon which was next to the ice cream came across - I suppose this could become popular.”

But Susan Chase, from Braintree, was not keen. She said: “It is too salty, I did not like it.

“Strawberry is the one for me - although I loved the honeycomb one they do, I must have more of a sweet tooth.”

Mr Baumann, who runs Baumanns Brasserie in Coggeshall, said: “Jane and I go back years and we like to do different things so we decided to create an ice cream with the potential for it to be a Valentine's ice cream.

“I did not think it would be popular, but 85% of the people that have had it have loved it - you just have to get your head around the fact that it is going to be a savoury ice cream.

“We decided to do it for Valentine's Day, but it was only afterwards that we discovered its history and the link to George Washington.”

And it looks as though they are not going to stop at oysters, and are thinking about adding roast turkey ice cream to the menu.

He said the feedback had been so good that the desert was going to go straight on the brassiere menu.

Mrs Hadley said: “We were looking for an ice cream flavour that is distinctive and had a strong identity with the region.

“We have been incredibly fortunate to drag Mark away from the kitchen to help us create this savoury ice cream.”