RivaReno Gelato, Barangaroo, Sydney

Two days, one night in Sydney. Could I squeeze in a visit to an artisan gelateria? Absolutely. And I found the ideal place. RivaReno.

Founded in 2004 in Bologna, RivaReno now has gelaterie across Italy, and has expanded to Australia, Malta and Spain. My expectations were high. RivaReno has some prestigious awards, including “Migliore gelateria d’Italia” (best gelateria in Italy) in 2008 from the Golosaria association and “Maestri del Gusto” (Masters of Taste) from the Slow Food organisation.

So how did RivaReno earn such accolades? It starts with the basics – natural ingredients with no artificial flavourings, colourings or preservatives. The ingredients come from top quality sources: hazelnuts and pistachios from Italy, Arabica coffee beans, real vanilla from Madagascar. Continue Reading

Meno Zero, Doncaster East

After conquering the pizza world with their classic margherita in 2016, the guys from Zero95 are expanding into gelato. Meno Zero opened just over a month ago, a couple of doors away from the original Zero95 in Doncaster East. And it serves up some of the best authentic Italian style gelato we have ever tasted.

Zero95’s pizzas are fantastic – they are proper napoletana pizzas. I’ve even mixed and shaped dough in a hands-on pizza making class with Andrea Cozzolino, Zero95’s world champion pizza maker. So we had very high expectations for the gelato. Continue Reading

Gelateria Millefiori, Niddrie

Melbourne is a big place.  In our travels around the city we have eaten lots of fantastic gelato and explored unfamiliar neighbourhoods, discovering far more than just new gelaterie.

On a busy Saturday morning Benny and I found ourselves in Niddrie – a long way from our regular haunts. Keilor Road was a hive of activity, with lots of enticing cafés and bakeries already pulling in customers.

Our objective was gelati, and Gelateria Millefiore was our target. With barely a nod to the “thousand flowers” of its name, the gelateria’s minimalist all-white décor is punctuated by some fantastic retro signs (Fiat 500, Lambretta…). Continue Reading

Il Melograno, Northcote

It was a special birthday treat for Benny – dinner at Il Melograno. A favourite spot for brunch, it serves up amazing food worthy of a Sicilian nonna. And Il Melograno (“the pomegranate tree”) has the added attraction of house-made gelato.

Opposite the Westgarth Cinema, Il Melograno is open from breakfast right through to late night. After 3pm the evening menu kicks in, with a range of “small bites” plus some more substantial dishes. Continue Reading

Giapo, Auckland, New Zealand

The traditional scoop (or three) of gelato into a cone or a cup does not give a lot of opportunity for artistic expression. Auckland-based Giapo is one of a new breed of gelaterie that are taking gelato to a whole new level. Is this simply style over substance? Or does the eating experience justify the extra effort? Read on… Continue Reading

Davey Mac’s, Black Rock

The word was out on social media: mandarin sorbet was back on the menu at Davey Mac’s!  One of the best gelatos we have ever tasted, we wasted no time in scooting down to Black Rock, picking up another mandarin fan along the way.

It was a glorious day, reminding us that summer is not far away. And Black Rock is a great spot for an artisan gelateria. Life can’t get much better than strolling down to the beach on a sunny day, enjoying a gelato along the way. It’s the simple pleasures… Continue Reading