Buzzing with FOOD

Some ask what is gelato? What difference is it from ice-cream? Is it just another stylish name created by the Italians?

Well, generally it is not the same as ice-creams. It is flavorful, rich and creamy, and health-conscious!

But how can that be?? Rich and creamy do not go along with health-conscious!

 For a start, Gelato is both lower in fat and calories compared to traditional American ice cream. In the U.S. ice cream is generally made with cream, and is classified by its butterfat content (10% - 12%). Gelato is made from milk or water, which accounts for a lesser percentage of butterfat (5%-8%) and therefore calories and fat.

Also, gelato contains about 25% to 30% air, while ice cream can contain as much as 50% air, meaning gelato is denser because not as much air is whipped into the mixture. For consumers like us, it means more flavourful and rich texture!!!

Read the difference here

 Gelatissimo from Down Under (Australia) brings to our shore the real taste of Italia. Most of their product/ingredients are imported from Australia, so no compromising on the taste even though we are in Malaysia. Gelatissimo Pty Ltd is a 100% Australian owned company that utilises the best of Italian and Australian ingredients to create that real Italian gelato flavour.

They have choices of 1 Flavour cup @ RM 8.90, 2 Flavours @ RM 12.90, 3 Flavours @ RM 16.90. Some might be put off by the price but rest assured that the taste is more satisfying than normal ice-cream and that all the ingredients are specially imported from Australia! That should convince you to give it a try, right?

The array of choices available in this outlet. There’s about 50 or more flavours, and they rotate it around every week. So one week you might see certain flavours and another week it’s could be a totally different display. Feel free to take a scoop or two and try it out before you decide to buy any! They will be pleased to serve you.

3 cup sizes and the packaging provided.

I’m just gonna give you a small peep on how mango sorbet is made. Basically Gelatissimo went through a Sprint Process, then through Extraction, Blast Freezer and finally Decoration. Different places might go through different process but the last 3 method should be somewhat similar.

(for more info of other processes, read this)

From liquid to the creamy gelato 

The spatula used is not something to be kidding about. It has its importance!!

The waves created from the machine and handling of spatula is part of an art and decoration for gelato!

Gelato is not only an Italian ice cream but an art form. From the classic waves that are created right out of the machine, to spatulart, and an array of toppings and garnishes, and plated desserts, the aesthetic gelato creates is just as important to gelato makers as the overall taste. 

Gelato Waves

Gelato waves are the classic way gelato is presented in a pan. The waves are created during the extraction from the batch freezer. The gelato maker takes a gelato spatula (note: gelato is traditionally served with a spatula and not a scooper) and carefully collects the product as it leaves the machine and places in the pan. The technique is to collect the gelato so that it is almost in the form a tear shape and drop it into the pan.

Spatulart

Decorating techniques of gelato are endless with the many varieties of spatulart. More like a sculpting tool then a spatula, spatulart is a flat handheld tool that shapes gelato into various patterns that include shapes, rows, grooves and so much more.

and also have you seen Plated desserts before? (read more) 

Here’s the freshly-made gelato. The mango fragrance is really tantalizing and we were really lucky to be given a spoonful each as it really melts in the mouth!!!

Affogato @ RM 14.90

This is indeed a yummylicious treat. Ever tried something bitter-sweet? This is one of them - The bitterness of illy’s espresso and the sweetness of biscotti flavour gelato. This should be taken not seperately but both together to have the cold-hot, bitter-sweet effect. Real thumbs-up!!!

They use illy espresso (ready-packed)

Sample of the mango shake

Gelatissimo shake @ RM 14.90. They take the mango sorbet and blend it to give you a smooth and creamy shake.

And this is the 2 flavour cup gelato of green tea and Belgian chocolate. It is quite a lot actually and can be shared by 2 person.

Take-away cold-box if you decide to pack it back for your family and friends.

The friendly staff of Gelatissimo. Thanks to Jason and Gill for sending out the invite and to Mr. Hong, the marketing manager for his sharing on gelato!!

And as they say in Gelatissimo, "This temptation is guilt free with sorbet being 100% fat free and premium dairy between 90-97% fat free.".

So what are you waiting for? Give it a try!

Contact:

G-45A, Gurney Plaza, 10250, Penang
Tel: 04-228 0822
http://www.gelatissimo.com.au/ 

GPS:

 5°26.255′ N   100°18.571′ E

Anyway here’s a trivia:
(don’t take it seriously!)

 WHAT YOUR FAVORITE GELATO FLAVOR SAYS ABOUT YOU
Is It True That We Are What We Eat?

Most people know about their IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and many know about their EQ (Emotional Quotient), but how many know about their GQ (Gelato Quotient)?

GQ is a theory based on customer research at PreGel AMERICA that equates favorite gelato flavors with personality types. See what your favorite gelato flavors say about you.

A continuation on the offerings of 75° C Restaurant & Bar. To view the beverages choices, click here.

(The descriptions below in orange are as written in the menu)

Snack selection:

Tempura Calamari (RM 8.50)

Very crispy and the calamari does not taste rubbery. A good snack to start off the meal.

Tempura Prawns  (RM 9.90)

Crunchy outer layer and juicy prawns added with thousand island sauce. This is also good as it was snapped up in seconds!!

Fish Cocktail (RM 8.50)

Blended fish made into balls and deep fried. I would prefer the earlier two snacks to this as this lacks a definitive taste of fish. (it could be my tastebuds/preference)

Cheesy Garlic Bread (RM 6.90)

Very crispy externally but the softness remains inside. And the cheese + garlic is a great combination to this simple yet wonderful dish.

Mushroom Bruschetta (RM 7.90)

The word bruschetta comes from the Italian term "to roast over coals." So, the most important part is to toast the bread.  You can make different variations of bruschetta. One possibility is to rub the bread with a cut tomato after rubbing it with garlic. You can also make a salsa for the bread. Chop some ripe tomatoes, then cut some fresh basil. Put the tomato and basil into a bowl. Add a little olive oil, and then spread a thin layer of the salsa onto the bread. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and serve.
video on how to make  bruschetta

Stewed mushroom served with butter toasted baguette. If you are aiming to get a light meal, then this would be a reasonable choice. The stew is made with a few different kinds of mushrooms and herbs.

Lamb Bruschetta (RM 8.90)

This one has a stronger flavour than the mushroom stew. The lamb was very tender and fully infused with herbs.

Salad dish selection:

Chef’s Salad (RM 11.90)
Mix garden green with cherry tomato, onion, black olive, tuna flakes and filament stick served with thousand island sauce.

Very fresh greens mixed and topped with tuna and thousand island sauce. Oh and the olives, I love olives!!!

Crispy Chicken Salad (RM 12.90)
Deep fried chicken in mix garden green, cherry tomato, onion, black olive served with oriental dressing.

Same kind of salad as the chef’s salad but this is added with deep fried chicken pieces. This is for those who want a balance of some greens and some meat as a meal!!

I can’t help but see the little similarity of this and the chicken ban ban in Heaven Delights (Penang Times Square)

Soup dish selection:

Creamy Tomato & Bacon (RM 6.90)

Sourish tomato puree with bits of bacon. It has a thick consistency and whips up our appetite with its sour taste!

Creamy Mushroom (RM 6.90)

I like this among the three. It’s very creamy with a strong flavour of wild mushroom and herbs.

Oxtail (RM 8.50)

After tasting the two above, this is quite mild.

Sandwiches/Burger dish selection:

Turkey Fresco (Rm 12.90)
Toast butter croissant add in smoked turkey roll, lettuce, cucumber and tomato served with french fries.

Fresh greens with crunchy croissant and fragrant ham makes a good combination to this dish. The french fries is sprinkled with chilli powder.

Hamburger Delight (Rm 16.90)
Grill juicy beef burger, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, onion and cheese served with french fries.

The hamburger was a winner in this category (according to others as I didn’t managed to get a bite - it disappeared so fast!). The grill beef patty was very thick and satisfied the craving for a meaty sandwich! The baked cheese on top adds a bursting flavour to this delight (living up to its name).

Tuna Supreme (RM 12.90)
Toasted butter croissant add in tuna and filament mayo, lettuce, tomato and cucumber served with french fries.

Same set as the Turkey Fresco but with tuna as the filling instead. I would prefer the turkey fresco to this as the filling is rather moist and missing the chunky tuna pieces. But for those who are into tuna, you can give it a try.

Cheezy Beef (RM 15.90)
Saute beef slice, onion and mushroom add on roasted pepper baked with cheese, served with french fries.

Did not try this but others mentioned that taste-wise, it’s nothing spectacular.

Pasta dish selection:

Alla Carbonara (RM 10.90)
Saute beef bacon and capsicum add in cream sauce served with spaghetti.

This also totally disappeared soon after photo shoots. It’s either really great or some wants to get rid of it fast! From the looks it’s creamy enough. I guess it should taste as good as it looks.

Aglio Olio (RM 15.90)
Saute garlic, mix herb and chilli flake with olive oil add in tiger prawn served with spaghetti.

This is a little spicy and one of the dish which I enjoyed. There’s a mixture of ham slices, brinjals (eggplants) but not sure if I spotted any tiger prawns though.

Alla Marinara (RM 16.90)
Thai style tomato sauce add in mix seafood served with spaghetti

This dish is quite dry and the tomato sauce is nothing exceptional.

Baked Cheezy Seafood (RM 16.90)
Small shell pasta served with mix seafood and creamy tomato sauce

Looks good but not recommended in my sense as it has a funny taste -  like fishy taste to it. And it’s also very creamy and since it’s cheese baked, it’s better to eat it while it’s hot from the oven.

Fish dish selection:

Fish and Chips (RM 10.90)
served with french fries, mix lettuce and tartar sauce

Deep fried fish fillet and french fries - a classic I would say.

Lemon Butter Fish (RM 12.90)
served with french fries, mix lettuce and lemon cream sauce

Similar to the fish and chips in every sense except with the addition of lemon cream sauce. The sauce is kind of diluted and taste quite bland.

Tagarashi Salmon (RM 17.90) (below left)
Grill roll salmon, mash potato ratatouille with mix lettuce, served with curry cream sauce

This salmon is uniquely rolled with seaweed in the inner ring and added with curry cream sauce. I did not taste any strong flavour of curry, just creamy. As salmon is naturally quite dry and bland, the sauce should be more flavourful to cover the dryness, while the seaweed comes in to cover the bland part.

Lamb/Beef dish selection:

Lamb Cutlet (RM 22.90)
Served with mash potato, ratatouille, mix lettuce and mint yogurt sauce

The mint sauce is a special addition to the lamb cutlet and taste quite good. (By know you would have realise too that they like to garnish their dish with carrot strips very much!!)

I can’t help but photograph this nice-looking cube of mash potatoes topped with ratatouille. Only the two dishes above are served with this mash potatoes + ratatouille side dish. It was quite engrossing eating it, spoonful after spoonful.

The only dish served in a hot plate is this Jacuzzi Beef (left pic).

Jacuzzi Beef (RM 17.90)
Served in hot place with french fries and black pepper sauce

The beef slices was stir-fried with onions and mushrooms before black pepper sauce is poured on top of it and served in a hot plate. I feel that the black pepper sauce is actually not spicy and fragrant enough.

Spice Lamb Leg (RM 18.90)
Served with rosemary potato, mix lettuce and pineapple JD sauce.

The lamb was tender and goes very well with the potatoes which is sauteed with butter and rosemary.

Chicken dish selection:

Black Pepper Mushroom Chicken (RM 10.90)
Served with french fries, mix lettuce and mushroom pepper sauce

Same sauce as the jaccuzi beef, hence lack in spiciness and fragrance as mentioned earlier. This dish is something normal which can be cooked at home or found in other western food restaurants/stalls. 

Roasted Chicken Drumstick (RM 15.90)
Served with rosemary potato, mix lettuce and orange ginger sauce

The sauce of orange and ginger combination is indeed something different and adds some zing to the roasted drumstick. Sauteed potato with rosemary comes as the side dish.

Chicken Chop (RM 10.90)
Served with french fries, mix lettuce and oriental sauce

The drumstick is deep-fried and maintained its crispiness even after being drowned in oriental sauce for quite some time before we started eating.

Teriyaki Chicken (RM 15.90)
Served with saute potato, mix lettuce and teriyaki cream sauce

Teriyaki by name but I can hardly savour any teriyaki taste. And it’s also a little dry.

Overall, the ambiance of this restaurant is good (albeit the hotness during day time), the beverages served are really interesting and covers a wide range, the food presentation is good and taste-wise, there’s some hits and miss but averagely it’s considered not bad for new emerging western restaurants.

 This restaurant can be clearly seen at the stretch of Gurney Drive, being neighbours to Coffee Island Cafe and also Khaleel Restaurant. This place serves western cuisine and a 10% service charge is applied.

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