Melbourne

It was a perfect day to visit Pagoto Gelato & Waffle House in Oakleigh, a thriving hub of Greek Melbourne. Brilliant warm sunny day – check. Lively buzz from the crowds at the outdoor cafés in Eaton Mall – check. People parading through the streets dressed in animal pelts and skulls – say what?

Over the three weeks before Lent, it is carnival time, “Apokries”. The festivities take different forms across Greece, but a common theme involves masked revellers dressing up and wandering the streets, celebrating with music and dance. Continue Reading

With so many new gelaterie opening in Melbourne over the past couple of years, it is easy to forget that house-made gelato is not just a recent arrival. And East Brunswick’s Gelobar, established in 1990, is still going strong.

Gelobar is far more than just a gelateria. Open from early morning until late at night, Gelobar covers everything from early breakfast to late night cocktails, with dining options including pasta, pizza and panini. And then there are the sweet indulgences, which are always very distracting… luscious torte, biscotti and pasticcini (pastries). So, so tempting… Continue Reading

March 2019 update: Lunigiana Gelateria has closed. The premises are now the home of Brazen Brownies.

The best honey in Italy comes from the region of Lunigiana, north-west of Pisa. With such a notable pedigree, it’s a natural choice to call your new gelateria after your ancestral home.

Andrew, the proprietor, loved gelato so much that he travelled to Italy to study gelato making. Now he is back in Melbourne, with the family helping out at his gelateria in Harp Village. Continue Reading

Miinot Gelato is, hands down, one of the best gelaterie in Melbourne.

What makes Miinot so good? The gelati is made fresh in small batches each morning from all natural ingredients. The classics – vanilla, chocolate, lemon, pistachio, hazelnut – are done exceptionally well. Intense flavour and gorgeous texture. And then there are the specials. With quirky names, these demonstrate a deep understanding of how to combine flavours, often resulting in a level of sophistication that would not be out of place as an element in a chef-y dessert. Continue Reading

In the middle of the lively High Street shopping strip, Black Waffle has just celebrated its first birthday. It’s a dessert café which specialises – not surprisingly – in Belgian waffles, which are served with house-made gelato.

The café is surprisingly deep and spacious. Beyond the counter, the dining area has a long rustic timber table – ideal for big groups – as well as a number of smaller tables. A couple of equally rustic murals are a nice contrast to the neutral décor.

Our visit was mid-morning and business was brisk – waffles on every table. Continue Reading

My memory of our first visit to Piccolina is of passionfruit. Whole crate-loads of the fruit were being scooped out, filling the tiny store with a gorgeous aroma. That was just after Piccolina opened two years ago and we have been regular visitors ever since. Mostly because Benny reckons Piccolina has the best coconut gelato in Melbourne (he has recently conceded that Gelocchio is also a serious contender for best coconut).

All the gelato was made in-house each day, in small batches from raw ingredients and using traditional techniques. Everything was 100% natural – no pre-mixes, artificial colours or flavours, preservatives, thickeners or stabilisers. Continue Reading