We All Scream For Gelato

Finally, it's hot in Vancouver! What a glorious change! There are a few things that make summer aside from sunshine and one of those is ice cream. Now, many of us ice cream lovers have graduated our taste-buds to the superior flavour and consistency of Italian gelato and so we are going to bypass ice cream and head straight for the good stuff. Here are a couple of local (or fairly local) businesses creating the heavenly stuff and doing what they can to include organic ingredients, and/or remain carbon neutral.

Bella Gelateria

If you ever find yourself strolling past the Fairmont Pacific Rim (or go out of your way because it's worth it), nestled in the SE corner of the hotel on Burrard and West Cordoba you will find the most delightful gelato café, Bella Gelateria. Aside from making exquisite gelato, the owner is a REALLY nice guy! He harnessed us a parking spot once, while visiting friends at the hotel and we also witnessed him helping out a homeless fellow. We hope, in fact, that this article gains him some well deserved good Karma.

Yes, James and Anna seem to take pride in their gelato making process. From outside the gelateria you can witness beautifully coloured, creamy barrels of gelato being prepared. James learned the art of making gelato in Italy, receiving formal training at the Italian Culinary Institute and his advanced masters training at Carpigiani's Gelato University. He is set to represent Canada at the World Cup of Gelato in Rimini, Italy, in 2012. We are telling you this gelato is everything it promises to be! Here is a list of the gorgeous flavours:

Pistachio Siciliano (Pistachio)
Chocolate Fondent
Ncciola Piemontese
Stracitella
Creme di Bella
Fior di Latte
Tahiti Vanilla
Gianduia
Nougat/Torrone
Dolce de Leche
Chocolate Orange
Chocolate mint
Bacio
Thai Coconut Milk

What's carbon cool about Bella Gelateria?

Thanks to Bella Gelateria, Vancouver is now privy to the true way gelato should be made. Traditional preparation and celebration of food is cool by any standard. To boot, Bella supports and promotes the Slow Food, the 100-Mile Diet and the BCFGA. We are also happy to tell you that they use organic milk.

Farther Afield Find Salt Spring Gelato

Salt Spring Gelato contains organic sugar, milk, cream and fruit and is carbon neutral. They support local growers and programs like the Fruit Tree Project. The Fruit Tree Project has redistributed over 35,000 lbs of food in 12 years to community centres, neighbourhood houses, daycares and other community groups that would otherwise go to waste. Here is a look at some of their amazing flavours:

Chocolate Bliss
Chai Latte
Strawberries & Cream
Hazelnut
Vanilla Bean
Let`s Mango
Rasberry Sorbetto
Blueberry Sorbetto
Strawberry Sorbetto

Even though they are not a Vancouver based company, they are worth a mention and you CAN find their Gelato here:

Stong's
Donald's Markets
Whole Foods Market
Caper's Whole Foods Store
Nirvana Organics
East West Market
Greens Market
Meinhardt's
Overwaitea
Planet Organic
Superior Fish Market

Now that`s guilt free desert!

Bella Gelateria
1001 West Cordova Street
Vancouver, BC
V6C 0B7
Canada