Out & About #191 | "G" for Gelato and Espresso Bar

I can't be the only one expressing extreme gratification for the above freezing temperatures the East coast experienced today.
Clearly the guy who walked into "G" for Gelato and purchased an iced latte to go was equally excited about this mercury surge.

Seriously, what better way to celebrate the return of warm weather and temporary termination of hibernation than with St. Lawrence's own neighbourhood gelato gem? (Or so the community of Yelpers call it.)

Finding myself in the area once again, I decided I had nothing to lose than to try out both their infamous gelato as well as espresso drinks.

Though the grate embedded between the ledge of the east-facing entrance and newly-finished sidewalk was a bit daunting to step over, I managed to successfully obtain access to the shop after suppressing minor quivers.

Ordering through Ritual while making my journey via streetcar, my Mocha Espresso was almost ready when I arrived. During this brief wait, I took in my surroundings quietly: classic coppery brown brick walls, tall windows for optimal lighting conditions, and a series of vibrant orange bar seats enabling customers a great view of St. James Park and the lofty cathedral behind it.

It wasn't immediately clear that only two girls were working the entire floor when I entered; the duo assumed barista, cashier, gelato-scooper, and waitress duties, which was evidently no easy feat during the lunch rush.

As a particular pickup location for Ritual orders hadn't been all too perceivable from the east entrance, I approached the counter to inform one of the girls that I had arrived for my order. She gestured to her colleague, who had just completed pouring the latte art on my Mocha Espresso with skim milk.
With a short pause of awe and excitement, she dashed for her phone, eager to snap a shot of her work before relinquishing the caffeinated beverage. "Sorry." she apologized mid-shot. But all was understandable, as I also had my camera ready to capture the moment.

Side note: Liquids with low fat content are especially challenging to form into shapes, thus I silently commended her for her expertise as I wandered over to the gelato counter.

According to other reviewers, there was always a small selection of rotating flavours available. During this visit, I spotted Salted Caramel, Tiramisu, Cinnamon, and many more.
I re-approached the counter after a few small groups of customers had placed their orders. "Can I try some of the flavours?" I asked the girl at cashier whom I initially came into contact with.
She replied hastily, "Sure, give me one minute."

But I was soon forgotten.

Several minutes passed before she caught my eye again in front of the gelato freezer. "Can I help you?" came an absent-minded voice.
​
Indeed, you can.

Three samples of Tiramisu, London Fog, and Vanilla Rosewater were handed to me for taste-testing before she disappeared back behind the bar. Another few minutes passed before the photo-happy barista approached me. "Can I help you?" she asked.

Evidently, there's a significant deal of miscommunication in this establishment.

"Yes, I just placed another order on Ritual - this time for two flavours of gelato. Can I get it in a sugar cone?"
She explained that gelato was usually served in a cup, as "it'll be really messy" otherwise.
"Alright" I shrugged it off.
"I can put a cone on top if you'd like though. Did you want one?" she politely inquired after smothering a generous amount of the creamy mixtures into the plastic, flower-shaped cup.
Of course, I nodded happily.

Bringing both items over to the bar area, I gazed at the size of the gelato while taking small sips of the mocha. The drink was definitely on the watery side, albeit it had been concocted with skim milk after all, but also bore a strong cocoa influence as opposed to the chocolatey flavour of other coffee shops. It was enjoyable nonetheless, though I could have definitely done without the unpleasant clump of powder that remained at the bottom of my cup.

On the other hand, the gelato was absolutely heavenly. With undeniably unique flavours (and a wonderful crunch in the Vanilla Rosewater), the chilly dessert was positively creamy and smooth. Unlike Kekou or Port 1, G's gelato did not exhibit the serious signs of melting I had been anticipating. (Perhaps they utilized a greater amount of stabilizers? Though, it didn't taste like it.)  It maintained a solid, spoon-able consistency, and was the ideal combination of richness and depth of flavour.
The sugar cone placed on top also allowed for the dessert to be enjoyed both ways: licked like ice cream, or spooned like traditional gelato.

And did I mention that the portion size was humongous?! As a post-lunch treat, this kept me more than satisfied until dinner time. I'll definitely be towing a few more tastebuds with me next time to try more of their awesome selection! Maybe I'll even try their pizzas and dine in!

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