DESSERT FIRST

Nutella lasagne and a chocolate rotisserie are just two of many reasons to join the sugar rush to Surfers Paradise, writes Sally Coates

THERE’S a hot new eatery in Surfers Paradise’s The 4217 boasting a menu brimming with burgers, lasagne and pasta.

Right now you’re thinking, “Big deal. Everywhere does those dishes.”

But do they make them out of chocolate? Because this place does.

Tella Balls Dessert Bar opened its first Queensland store on the Gold Coast yesterday, debuting dessert versions of classic savoury dishes, plus its famous signature selection.

But what are Tella Balls?

“The first cafe my business partner Simon (Kappatos) and I ran we became famous with our Tella Ball shake, it went viral,” co-owner Aki Daikos says.

“Tella Balls are something we had an idea for about three years ago. Our background is European. We wanted to combine that textured, doughnut, brioche style with something and everybody loves Nutella worldwide.

“So that’s how the Nutella centre started and then we just kept adding flavours.”

While Nutella will always be the signature, Tella Balls also come in Oreo, M&M, salted caramel, jam, Ferrero Rocher, Raffaello and other flavours. The rest of the kooky menu items are the work of grown men with hearts of children who have the freedom to design whatever culinary creations they like.

“We’re always innovating and creating desserts,” Aki says.

“We like to think of confectionary we dreamt of as a child and turn it into a reality. We do the most amazing crepes, waffles, pancakes and gelato all made in-house. The demographic is amazing – from young to old – and watching someone’s face as they see and enjoy their dessert is the most pleasing thing for us.”

That’s how Nutella lasagne came to be on the menu – layers of decadent mousse and fresh cream on a chocolate biscuit base, lashings of Nutella, served with vanilla-bean gelato.

Continuing the Italian theme is pastatella, house-made “fettuccine” tossed in Belgian milk and white chocolate sauce, with vanilla-bean gelato and a sprinkling of shaved chocolate straight from the chocolate rotisserie.

Can’t picture a chocolate rotisserie? Imagine the rotating meats at a kebab shop, but replace the meat with solid chocolate. It also tops the Tellabab – a doughnut pita filled with freshly shaved chocolate, strawberries, banana, whipped cream and – you guessed it – Nutella.

Despite all that sugar and all that chocolate, Aki isn’t worried about being shunned by the gym junkies and health nuts – including the members of the gym located one level up.

“We were actually featured in Fitness First magazine for being one of the best Nutella treats in Sydney,” he laughs. “The gym junkies and people doing bodybuilding competitions all come in on their cheat days and seriously indulge. We don’t do things by halves – people come to have dessert, to indulge and to enjoy every minute.”

Now they’re on the Gold Coast, Aki reluctantly lets slip that there is a GC Tella Balls flavour in the works. While we’ll have to dream about the details, he says it’s something “fresh and summery”.