There is something about Greensborough’s Dulce Gelateria that just makes me smile. Perhaps the décor – pink upon pink upon pink. Maybe the highly Instagrammable wall of flowers – pink of course! But the real reason to smile is its superb gelati.
It was a very grey day when Benny and I rocked up to this family-run gelateria. Being enveloped in Dulce’s warm pinkness and the friendly welcome of the server were perfect antidotes for the miserable weather outside.
Summer has finally hit Melbourne with a bang. It’s been one of the coldest Januarys in decades, and the middle of a mini-heatwave is a perfect time to cool down with a gelato.
After a sumptuous Thai feast at the highly recommended Miss Ping’s, we finished off with some mighty fine gelati from Good Daze Gelato.
It’s a pop-up, close to the entrance to the dining precinct, near The Coffee Club. Good Daze doesn’t have a permanent gelateria, but one of its gelato carts has been at The Glen for a few months now.
Traditional techniques coupled with a modern sensibility. That’s Mapo.
The focus of this Newtown gelateria is artisan gelati and sorbetti. No elaborate concoctions here, just a celebration of high quality natural ingredients, with an emphasis on seasonal produce. Chocolate and coffee are fair trade, milk is organic.
Behind its bright yellow door, the narrow shop has a sharp contemporary design, cleverly optimising the available space.
Marrickville’s Gelato Franco is unashamedly an old-school Italian gelateria. From its focus on traditional gelati, right through to the home-style interior décor – a scattering of pictures and mirrors, green wooden panelling, trailing indoor plants. And it is very, very popular.
Everything at this family-run gelateria is made on-site from scratch in small batches, with an emphasis on fresh seasonal ingredients. Gelato Franco even roasts and chops the nuts for its pistachio and hazelnut gelati.
Over the past few years, we’ve sampled some mighty fine gelato. There are many great gelaterias producing superb artisan-made gelati and sorbetti. Occasionally however we come across one that has something truly special. And on a quick trip to Sydney just before Christmas, we found Cow and the Moon.
Established in Enmore in 2010, this family-run gelateria has a long history of gelato excellence, culminating in winning the 2014 Gelato World Tour in Rimini, Italy.
A few months ago we were in Brisbane where Benny’s brother hosted our stay, indulging our passion for exploring local gelato hotspots. Maybe there was an ulterior motive? He certainly scored some great gelato along the way.
Highlight of our trip? Well there were a few, but Allora was definitely up at the top of our list.