Winter may seem an odd time to launch a new brand of gelato, but it seems that nowadays we can’t get enough of the frozen treats and I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream has never been more real. Welcome to Gelato Fiasco.
Given that, if you build it they will come, crafting a log cabin replica in the middle of hipster central, aka Fitzroy, come they certainly will. There are logs, axes and it certainly wasn’t tricky finding a lumberjack lookalike to wear a logger shirts and hand around drinks and gelato on the launch night.
Old university friends, Josh and Bruno, came all the way from Portland, Maine, to see how their four crazy flavours would be received by the Melbourne public. It’s safe to say they have been received with open arms. If life’s short and you’re just eating dessert, it probably should be one of these doozies. Extreme flavours with even more extreme toppings served in black waffle cones, these babies are not for the faint-hearted.
Wake n’bacon with its maple candied bacon and maple syrup popcorn covered in candied bacon crumbs. Yup. That’s the flavour. Or the Maine Munchie, which Is the flavour I think I’ve spent my whole life waiting for; peanut butter cookie with stacked pretzels dipped in chocolate. Co-founder Josh recommends the Log Cabin which is all chocolate shards, almonds and chilli. And then there’s the classic mint and chocolate brownie combo lovingly referred to as the Big Country brownie.
It’s a surreal evening that starts with bacon gelato and works its way on through gin toddies, finger food, more samples of gelato, then a lovely shiraz, with the fragrance of freshly cut wood wafting past the banjo-strumming bluegrass duo. Stepping back out onto Johnston Street just didn’t seem right.
You can try Gelato Fiasco yourself in any 7-11 but get in quick for the log cabin experience. It’s only around for 6 weeks. But, just a little advice, maybe don’t actually scream for ice cream; it doesn’t go down well that way.
Gelato Fiasco Log Cabin
82 Johnston Street, Fitzroy
– Jo
Jo Rittey is a freelance writer and French teacher caught up in the myth she can cram as much as possible into every day, devouring life like a large crème brûlée.
