INSIDE SCOOP ON TASTY TREATS
Ahead of tomorrow’s 42 degree scorcher, JAIMEE WILKENS got the scoop on some of our region’s popular ice cream shops to help find the tastiest way to keep cool THE region’s tastiest ice cream stores are gearing up to feed the masses as temperatures soar over 40C tomorrow.
To help decide which cold treat connoisseur deserves your hard-earned cash, the Geelong Advertiser has put together some ice-cream store picks worth pursuing.
NÖRDENFINE Ice Cream, found in West Geelong, Torquay and Anglesea, is run by Jordie Mounsey and his brother Doran. In a cool and competitive market, one thing he believes helps Nördenfine Ice Cream stand out from its competitors is that the business is family owned and operated.
“We make all our own ice cream on site at the three stores around the region,” he said.
While the store offers a range of weird and wonderful flavours, Mr Mounsey said the classic Cookies and Cream remained a favourite with customers
One unique favour offering is the Revenge of the Nerds — a lemon flavour combo riddled with sour Wonka Nerds.
MISS Gina Gelato is another high-ranking option, serving up scoops in Geelong’s CBD.
If the standard cone doesn’t do it for you any more, Miss Gina will serve your gelato straight into a baked doughnut.
Popular Miss Gina flavours include Ferrero Rocher, Lemon Sorbet and Bubblegum, though flavours are in regular rotation so customers never quite know what to expect.
There are more ice cream options down the Bellarine Peninsula, especially Barwon Heads and Queenscliff.
THE family-owned Scandinavian Ice Cream Company has outlets in Barwon Heads and Queenscliff. The Queenscliff store has been around since 1984.
Owner Greg Whitfield said the store’s secret weapon was gelato maker Martino, who won the 2015 World Gelato Cup in Italy.
“We have a diverse range of flavour offerings: 36 in Barwon Heads and 48 in Queenscliff,” he said.
“This summer’s most popular flavours seem to be Salted Caramel, Cookies and Cream, Peppermint, Honeycomb and Rainbow.”
Mr Whitfield said that his family’s shop had been successful over the years thanks to great service and generous serving sizes.
FAIRLY new to the dessert game, The Ice Cream Shop Queenscliff may have only been open for four months but it has made quite a summer splash.
Owner Kylie Crane said her store had received tremendous support from locals and tourists.
“We’ve got a good bit of variety, with 30 flavours rotating and changing every couple of days,” she said.
“People really love how fresh everything is. The ice cream I just got in right now was made last night.”
Popular summer flavours for The Ice Cream Shop include Pavlova and Passionfruit, and Cookies and Cream.
“People cannot get enough of Cookies and Cream — it feels like I’m selling it by the barrel,” Ms Crane said.
A unique but popular flavour offering is Lime and Ginger, and the divisive Liquorice.
THE Belmont branch of chain Cold Rock Ice Creamery rounds out the list of some of our top summer ice cream spots.
The High St shop is still going strong eight years after it first opened. Manager Ben Hammond said the ‘mix in’ option, which allows people to choose different toppings to be mixed in with the ice cream flavours, was a favourite of customers.
“Having the option to mix in confectionery gives it a bit more excitement, there are over 1000 different flavour combos,” he said.
Bubblegum and Cake Batter are some of the popular flavours for Cold Rock, with the lesser-known Cinnamon Donut and Meringue flavours definitely hidden gems.