Summertime treat
Say yes to gelato!
By Isabelle Southcott
René's Pasta on Marine Avenue has just what you need to stay cool this summer: Gelato.
René's is the only business in Powell River that makes gelato. Three local restaurants, The Alchemist, Savary Bight and Manzanita all carry René's gelato.
"Gelato is the word for ice cream in Italian," explains Alexandra Glangeaud. "But it's also different from the ice cream made in North America."
Fruit gelato is made with water and fresh fruit juice. Other flavours, like chocolate, pistachio and vanilla are made with whole milk.
"Ice cream is made with cream," said Alexandra.
Gelato is also denser than ice cream because there is less air in it.
Twenty-year-old Alexandra is studying microbiology at University of Victoria. She's home for the summer working in the family business and her job is to make gelato. On this hot summer day, Alexandra is already finishing up her third batch.
COOL AND DELICIOUS: Alexandra Glangeaud
shows off a cone of mango and mint gelato.
René's started making gelato three years ago. "I went to Italy on a school trip and I ate a lot of gelato there. I came back and was talking to my dad (René) about it and he thought that it was a good opportunity to make it because no one else in town does."
"We use local blackberries for our blackberry gelato which we'll have for the Blackberry Street Party along with a blackberry/white chocolate cheesecake," said Alexandra.
With over 20 flavours of gelato to choose from, there's sure to be something that tickles your taste buds.
"I like the Blood Orange," says Alexandra.
Me? I just love mint gelato, but my 11-year-old son says a combination of mango and mint is even better.
