Medical gelato maker opens store in SM Seaside
“To enjoy gelato as much as one savors coffee in the morning," is the mantra of Chef Sheldon Shen Jega who was cited by a local daily to be the only one in the Philippines today to have produced the best medical gelato right in his three-year-old workshop in Barangay Apas, Cebu City.
Many with health issues, or health buffs maintaining their ideal body mass, may shy away from ice cream but definitely treat gelato the opposite, he said. The point is that there is a number of benefits a consumer gets from gelato but such is outshone by the affordability of industrial ice cream, and the myth that gelato is "just exactly the same frozen product but with an Italian label."
According to the Singaporean chef, who prides in his 22-year romance with food, gelato is a form of ice cream. In Italian, gelato means "frozen." But unlike commercial ice cream, gelato is made of only the finest milk, little cream, very little sugar. In Sheldon's mixtures, eggs are a no-no. This is based on his Sicilian influence while in London for professional practice. The rest is a mix of fruits and nuts — and all the other lovely flavors familiar from childhood (rich Belgian chocolate, our Baguio strawberries, ube halaya or sweetened yam, Arabica coffee blended the way Hollywood royalty Sophia Loren - the certified Italianini - was enamored to the kick. Of course, there are simpler flavors like Moringa (the Cebuano comfort veggie malunggay) to support local farmers as a social responsibility.
Gelato has higher calcium content, low in fat and sugar. Thus, Sheldon's Gelato is actually medical gelato. Since it is guaranteed low in butterfat, the mixture doesn't leave a greasy aftertaste.
Sheldon's Gelato further assures their products are safe for consumers with lactose intolerance. As mentioned, milk is fresh, pure and fine. Not powdered nor skimmed. As products are non-glycemic too, these can be well recommended to diabetics who struggle with their sweet tooth nature.
To cater to a wider market, Sheldon's Gelato has opened a kiosk at SM Seaside near the Sky Park. Aside from this store, gelato lovers can get their favorite Sheldon’s gelato flavors from Rustan's Ayala, Banawa, Oakridge Mandaue, Shopwise Basak, Shopwise express Basak Lapu-Lapu, Shopwise express Newtown and Wellcome supermarkets in Pardo and Star Mall in Talisay City.