By Muaaz Ali
Fancy a scoop of the “World’s Best Pistachio” gelato? Chennai’s latest dessert hotspot, Gelarto, offers a delightful menu featuring 30 unique flavors, from classic hazelnut and berries to the playful bubblegum-flavored Boom Boom Boomer.
Located at the Crystal Lawn Complex on Haddows Road, Gelarto is the brainchild of pastry chef Janani Kannan, who trained at Le Cordon Bleu. After launching her first dessert café, Maison Indulgence, in December 2023, Janani took her passion for ice creams a step further with Gelarto.
“I have built myself a playground,” says Janani, explaining her inspiration behind the venture. Following an intensive online course with the Carpigiani Gelato University in Italy, she began experimenting with flavors, many of which now grace the freezer display at Gelarto.
From the seasonal Mahabaleshwar Strawberry to the spicy Guava Chilli and the zesty Fior Di Limon lemon curd gelato, Gelarto’s offerings cater to a wide range of palates. The star of the show is the pistachio gelato, made with Sicilian pistachios, which live up to its lofty name with its rich and creamy flavor.
Other highlights include Perfect Matcha, a ceremonial matcha gelato, and Madras Mocktail, a sugarcane-flavored sorbet. For health-conscious customers, the parlor offers four no-added-sugars, diabetic-friendly options, including Chocolate, Vanilla Bean, Shahi Gulab, and Coffee Hazelnut.
While 15 classic flavors like Milo, Chocolate Brownie, and Vanilla Bean are permanent fixtures on the menu, fruit flavors will rotate seasonally.
Despite being located near other popular dessert spots on Khadar Nawaz Khan Road, Gelarto has already attracted a steady crowd since its limited launch. The vibrant interiors, painted in pink and blue, provide a cheerful backdrop for indulging in gelato.
To complement its sweet offerings, the parlor also serves a limited selection of savory dishes, including fries and pizzas. Janani plans to expand the menu by introducing items from Maison Indulgence and offering Gelarto’s ice creams at her first café during the summer.
Janani has ambitious plans for Gelarto, having developed over 70 flavors. In the coming months, customers can look forward to new creations such as Mexican Hot Chocolate and Goat Cheese Gelato with fig relish and candied walnuts.
As Chennai embraces Gelarto’s flavorful creations, Janani envisions her parlor as a go-to destination for innovative and artisanal gelato in the city.