Gelato galore

By Nizla Naizer

Ice cream is undoubtedly one of man’s best creations. Is there anything more divine than a bite of cold, flavoured, cream which melts in your mouth and has you offering silent prayers of thanks to the crafty Italian who created it in the first place?
Bringing all things great about ice cream is Il Gelato in Colombo. The outlets which opened its doors nearly a decade ago brings the best of Italian craftsmanship in the art of making the perfect ‘gelato’ or ice cream to the country.
With outlets across Colombo, Il Gelato has firmly ensnared any Colombo dweller with a sweet tooth and a passion for exotic flavours. From the ice cream bar like atmosphere at the ODEL Boulevard to the sit-down-and-relax ambience at Duplication Road, there is a place to suit every need.
Il Gelato was the brainchild of Guiseppe Rocchi, an Italian national who knew the finer aspects of ice cream making. The products are manufactured at their unit in Kelaniya which also has a fully equipped lab continuously experimenting with new flavours and tastes. The colour and the texture of a gelato is its first appeal, as anyone’s eyes lights up as they skim over the selection of multi-hued ice creams on display, nicely complimented by the tantalising ingredients within. And although the Italian names of the various ice creams can be a mouthful, trust me they taste as great as they sound.
From the nutty Pistachio, to the white chocolate and chocolate chip filled Stracciatella, from the traditional Cioccolato (Chocolate) and Mint, to the more exotic Tiramisu, Il Gelato has over 25 flavours to suit your taste buds. You can always try them out before you decide on the flavour of the day so do not be alarmed by the selection.
“Favourites among are customers are always the chocolate, chocolate mint and the tiramisu,” Il Gelato manager Dian Paul explained, “But our range of yoghurts and gelato combinations are also popular.” He added that the secret to the never-ending appeal of the ice cream is the authenticity of the ingredients that are obtained directly from Italy most of the time.
Gelato is essentially high end ice cream as it has less than 55% of air and is usually made with whole milk unlike traditional ice cream which uses cream. Traditionally, gelato is made with fresh fruits and ingredients such as chocolate, nuts, cookies or biscuits. These days, gelato is made with any ingredient under the sun, from the exotic durian to the spicy chilli.
An offshoot of gelato are the sorbets, made without dairy ingredients and which is the ideal treat on a warm summer day. My favourites include the strawberry sorbet and melon, which refresh and revitalise at the same time. Gelato generally melts faster and is stickier than traditional ice creams too so the general advice is to relish it, but eat it fast.
But none of that was on my mind as I sat on the comfortable sofas at the Il Gelato outlet reveling in the taste of a creamy Almond (Mandorla) creation. Some of the new flavours at Il Gelato that should be tried out are the cream based Krokoloso and Rum Raisin. Another personal favorite is the tangy Wasabi Ice Cream that hits your palette all the way to the top of your brain with its unmistakable sensation. Unfortunately Il Gelato only provides the Wasabi ice cream upon special orders to certain restaurants and hotels in the country.
Bite into a crispy wafer cone, dive into a sinful sundae or just sit back and relish every spoon of the creamy creation in a cup, either way, Il Gelato has brought a little bit of Italian culture to the heart of Colombo. Head over to their main outlet at 20 A Lauries Place, Colombo 4 or the nearest ODEL in Colombo 7, Kohuwala or Nugegoda for that irresistible experience.