Mr Whippy’s days are numbered as more gelato shops open around Australia, impressing us with their deliciously weird and wonderful assortment of flavours. In comparison to ice cream, gelato tastes richer, denser and is made with more milk than cream meaning it contains significantly less fat. We scoped out some of the best gelato this country has to offer. Summer is coming.
1. RivaReno Gelato
These guys are the real deal. Originating in Milan, the chain exists in Turin, Milano Marittima, Ferrara, Florence, Rome and now Sydney. Usually you can preview flavours and judge just by seeing what looks good but RivaReno are very scientific about the temperature control. For the perfect scoop, lids of the containers, ‘pozzetti’ need be kept on at all times which keeps the gelato a few degrees warmer - as a result the gelato you get is much richer in taste.
280 Crown Street, Darlinghurst
2. The Cow and Moon Artisan Gelato
The Australian Grand Dairy Awards named Cow and Moon’s pistachio flavour as the best in the country this year. This Enmore café and dessert bar has won no less than 36 awards at the Sydney Royal Fine Food show, including champion gelato in 2012 for its Lime In The Coconut flavour. "Australians are more adventurous in their taste, whereas the Italian palate is more traditional." Owner, John Crowl told the Good Food Guide. "Flavours like banana caramel or butter caramel, you'd be hard-pressed to find in Italy.”
181 Enmore Road , Enmore, NSW
3. Gelato Messina
Messina is the Italian version of Ben & Jerry’s. With over 40 different flavours plus weekly specials, it’s not surprising that people are found lining up around the block even in the middle of winter. Salted Caramel, Chocolate Sorbet and the Pandan Coconut Sorbet are popular staples and then there’s a smorgasbord of crazy inventions from the Khaleesi (yoghurt and mango gelato with dragon fruit purée) to a tribute to the classic Golden Gaytime with their, Have a Gay Old Time flavour featuring swirls of caramel and milk gelato with bits of chocolate covered biscuit crumbs. Not to mention their next level gelato cakes with mushrooms, burgers and lollypops – all made out of gelato.
Shop 1/241 Victoria St, Darlinghurst NSW
389 Crown St, Surry Hills NSW
80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont NSW
4. Gelatomassi
This Newtown joint has been around for the past ten years and boasts some mouthwatering decandant flavours including crowd favourite Belgian Chocolate, Toblerone Swiss Choc and Tim Tam Biscuit to the lighter Pear & Ginger and Blood Orange Sorbets. Open until midnight this place is the perfect dessert to have after any Newtown meal.
262 King St, Newtown
5. Casa del Gelato
Casa del Gelato is a family owned and run business founded by an ex pastry chef and Italian migrant, Ottorino Pace, in Melbourne’s CBD in 1980. Importing the highest quality hazelnuts and nougat in the world directly from Italy. In 2009 Mr Pace won the Premio Internazionale ‘Mastri Gelatieri’ - an award presented to the best artisan ice-cream maker in the world.
163 Lygon Street, Carlton
