The Two Newest Gelato Shops in Montclair
Gelato Options at il laboratorio del gelato. Image courtesy of il laboratorio del gelato
By Brooke Harrington
Step right up folks! This right here is the battle of the year – the two newest gelato shops to hit Montclair are putting up their dukes for a fight!
Not really, but I’m here to tell you what I think of the two latest gelato shops on the block. I am a seasoned gelato taster, having worked at Montclair’s Guerriero Gelato (formerly Gelottis) as well as another ice cream shop. I like to consider myself an iced dessert connoisseur. Or maybe it just comes from me easily eating a pint of Talenti in one sitting or hitting every buy 1 get 1 Wednesday at Carvel for 9 months straight. Either way – gelato and ice cream are the pinnacle dessert for me, so when I heard about these two spots, I had to try them.
Ube Gelato at il laboratorio del gelato. Image courtesy of il laboratorio del gelato
First up in the ring – il laboratorio del gelato! The “lab” was started back in 2002 in New York with a core purpose of flavor creation and recipe development. Right when you walk in the door, you sense the science behind this frozen dessert. Flavors such as cucumber, black sesame, and lavender are eye catching. Wanting to try every flavor, it was smart to bring some friends along! After tasting some more interesting flavors like buttermilk and toasted sesame seed, I decided to go with a classic chocolate hazelnut and ube. The ube looks bright, lush, and enticing with its purple hue. But it was the sweet and creaminess of this purple treat that really caught my attention. This gelato was rich, creamy, bold, and innovative. An adventure for the tastebuds!
Gelato flavors at Benvenuti. Image courtesy of Benvenuti
Up next we have Benvenuti! Walking into Benvenuti I was instantly transported back to Italy. Fresh, churning gelato in front of me, mixed with the scents of cappuccinos and dripping espresso to pair. Benvenuti is a traditional Italian gelato shop serving up classic flavors like pistachio, hazelnut, vanilla, and tiramisu. You can sense the history and tradition in the flavors and technique, as the gelato is fresh churned until it is scooped on to a sugar cone or into a dish. I ordered the pistachio and tiramisu – nutty, smooth, creamy, and decadent is how I would describe these flavors. Served in a cup with a traditional cone chip – I couldn’t ask for more! While staying true to traditional gelato making methods, Benvenuti has brought something fresh to Church Street.
il laboratorio del gelato. Image courtesy of il laboratori del gelato
Well, I’m going to have to call it a tie between these two. Although these places both have their roots in gelato, they stray down very different paths. If you’re looking for a foodie adventure, il laboratorio del gelato will give you a thrill in every bite of their new and innovative flavors. If you want classic, traditional, and smooth head over to Benvenuti to get the ultimate creamy dessert. Either way, these two Montclair destinations are both knockouts of the gelato world!
Benvenuti storefront. Image courtesy of Benvenuti.
