We've all heard of wine and cheese tastings – but did you know you could also do a gelato
tasting? Today we're giving you a tiny glimpse of Death in Venice's Gelato Tasting experience. From the gelato lab's most popular flavours to the bizarre and unique combinations, like dare we say chocolate cricket – this is a tasting you won't forget.
Death in Venice Gelato is a gelato counter located in Toronto serving gelatos, sorbets, baked goods and many more items. Their gelato can be found in the gelato counter but also in a number of stores like Fresh & Wild, Pusateri's, McEwans and many more.
What's unique about Death in Venice is they also offer an hour-long gelato tour. My best friend and I attended this tour as part of her birthday celebration, and we both agreed it was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. In fact, she will be buying the tour for her parents!
The tour starts in the lab where you get behind the scenes of the production machines, a bit of background about what it takes to run a gelato counter, the background of how Death in Venice was born, and the science behind gelato. The tour guide gives plenty of opportunities to ask questions and is extremely friendly and open. I mean, some people even asked questions about his utility bills!
Once the informational part of the tour was completed, the adventure got even sweeter, and we had the opportunity to taste sixteen different flavours of gelato. The portions for the tastings are really small – just little teaspoons. Still, they are enough to let you understand and appreciate the delicate flavour combinations. You don't know the flavours ahead of time and are encouraged to taste with your taste buds, not your eyes. Don't look at the menu board – said the guide repeatedly, and honestly, guessing the flavours made the tasting even more exciting. All of the flavours of gelato are so unique that you begin to question yourself. Could the flavour be as simple as just blueberry or am I forgetting something?
Death in Venice prides itself in making sure that all ingredients are sustainably sourced, local, and seasonal. Based on these values, flavours range from the more straight forward, like Ricotta Rosemary Lemon, to Olive Oil and Sea Salt, Peanut Butter and Croissant, Corn, Garlic Fennel Vanilla, or for the very daring, there is something even more different. For example, during October, Death in Venice has previously served chocolate cricket flavoured gelato for those brave enough to try it. We were pretty happy it wasn't one of the flavours when we went, but we kept asking ourselves, would we even want to try it if it was served? I guess we'll have to go back in October to find out!
Now I know what you're thinking, after trying 16 flavours, the tour must end, right? The answer is no because, after the tasting, we got to pick a scoop to enjoy. I selected the Olive Oil and Sea Salt meanwhile, Sarah chose the Boozy Tiramisu.
Definitely don't make our mistake though, and if doing the tour, make sure to bring a cooler bag with you as you'll want to take some pints home to share with friends and family. We forgot our cooler bags and ended up walking around the area to locate someone selling them. After visiting Rexall, a number of grocery stores, and also convenience stores – we finally found the answer. If you forget your cooler, visit Pavao Meats and Deli.
A cooler bag in hand, I brought home the Pistachio Yogurt Baklava, Chocolate and Sour Cherry, Boozy Tiramisu, and the Olive Oil and Sea Salt. I could definitely see myself going back though to try out a few other flavours as well as the sorbets.
Now we've talked all about what the tour entails – but what about the price and did we think it was worth it? The tickets for the tour cost $70 per person. Considering its an hour-long experience with 16 tastings plus a full scoop, we think it was worth it. This experience was unique and insightful because it is run by Kaya – the owner and founder of Death in Venice and the winner of Chopped Canada 2015, and 2019 Gelato Cup of North America. Kaya is very knowledgeable and passionate about his business, and it's really wonderful to hear about his experience firsthand but also how he develops some of the flavours and where he sources the ingredients from. With his background in chemical engineering and Michellin star restaurants, its really no wonder how inventive some of the gelato flavours are and how much dedication is shown to the gelato process as a whole. In fact, many of the jams and the "Nutellas" used in the gelato flavours are made fresh here in Death in Venice.
What also makes this tour worth it is that they're wonderful about accommodating diets and food restrictions so everyone can participate. It is a fantastic date idea, a gift for a friend, or even a fun thing to do as a family.
I'd note a few things for anyone attending the tour – make sure to keep an eye out for when it starts. At least on the day of our tour, a lot of people came in and out of the shop to buy gelato, attend the tour, or just simply explore the menu. As one tour ended, another started, however, no formal announcement was made to warn those waiting that the tour was starting. We had noticed that some people moved towards the lab and realized what must have started. Unfortunately, a few people didn't and thus missed the first few minutes of the tour. Everyone seemed happy overall and didn't mind – but keep an eye out to ensure you get the most out of your experience.
Also, if you're looking to attend the tour, plan ahead. It isn’t frequently offered, only two days are available in September. The tour groups themselves are also relatively small. I believe our tour group consisted of only about 8 people or so. Considering this, you definitely want to look at availability early on to ensure you get a date that works for you. Our understanding is that Kaya can also accommodate private groups of up to 20 guests. An availability request has to be made in advance of time for the venue to be able to accommodate this.
Overall, whether you're an adventurous eater or a casual appreciator of sweets, doing this gelato tasting will surely leave you with a smile on your face and a satisfied palate.
コメント