The world’s best hazelnuts are Italian, grown in the Piedmont region. And anyone aiming to make the best gelato will be using Piedmont hazelnuts. Just like Elsternwick’s Luna Blu Gelato.
After studying how to make gelati at the Gelato University in Italy – yes, Gelato University really is a thing – Asha returned to Melbourne and, with a good dollop of courage and optimism, launched Luna Blu three years ago, mid lockdown.
Asha makes her gelati in small batches, fresh every day, from natural ingredients. While the nuts are Italian and vanilla beans are from Madagascar (the best!), most other ingredients are Victorian – Gippsland milk, seasonal fruits and free-range Green Eggs.
The 16 flavours of the day are stored in traditional shiny-lidded pozzetti. As regular readers know, pozzetti are the best method for keeping gelati at optimum freshness, without the need for artificial preservatives. Plus pozzetti can keep gelati at a higher temperature, which means that the taste is better!
Luna Blu’s menu includes a selection of dairy-based gelati and dairy-free sorbetti, which changes regularly. Gelati is served in cups, cones or tubs to take away. For extra indulgence, warm Nutella can be drizzled on top. Coffee – from specialty coffee roaster Code Black Coffee in Brunswick – plus affogato, hot chocolate, chai and milkshakes round out the menu options.
Benny paired a piedmont hazelnut gelato with a zingy blood orange sorbetto. I chose a classic combination: pistachio gelato and a stunningly rich dark chocolate sorbetto, based on Atypic 70% Solomon Islands chocolate. Luna Blu also sells blocks of Atypic chocolate – made in Melbourne from cacao beans sourced from organic farmers across the Pacific.
Flavours were outstanding and textures were silky smooth – just what you would expect from a graduate of the Gelato University!
We also sampled a couple of other menu items that showcase Asha’s skills with flavour combinations. Beetroot, goats cheese and candied walnuts sounded a bit weird, but turned out to be surprisingly good, with a great balance between savoury and sweet. Spiced pumpkin with pumpkin seed brittle was also very tasty and would definitely appeal to those with a sweet tooth.
Luna Blu is an easy walk from Elsternwick station, just off Glen Huntly Road in the midst of the lively Elsternwick village. There are a couple of tables with chairs outside on the footpath, otherwise why not enjoy your gelato while strolling along Glen Huntly Road?
If we lived any closer, we would be visiting Luna Blu every day. Friendly service and top quality gelato – ticks all our boxes.
Luna Blu Gelato
1D Staniland Grove,
Elsternwick Vic 3185
