The New Original Italian Gelato Place On MG Road Kochi.

The Original Italian Gelaterie - 'Milano'

By - Lt Col (Retd) D Purushothaman Pillay

Kochi, now officially boasts of an authentic Italian gelaterie; opened on 21 Dec 2012, owned by Giancarlo Segalini; this stand alone Produzione Propria (homemade - own production) in Ravipuram, MG Road, opposite the Tanishq showroom, is called - 'Milano'.

It was very fascinating to hear the story of how gelatai - Signor Segalini, who hails from a renowned family of Italian ice cream makers, who do business in the German trade fair centre of Dusseldorf, set up his shop in Kochi. It was during his visit in April of 2012, on a brief vacation, while accompanying his businesswoman wife Sara who regularly comes to Cherthala for sourcing her coir import, that he sensed an opportunity to start his business in India, that too in Kochi. He soon came back in August itself, with firm business plans and even enthused his celebrated Milano based designer friend, the famed Paolo Zani to tastefully design the interiors of this modest place he had hired to launch his new venture on MG Road. I must admit this new place has a definite aura of sophisticated elegance to it in every aspect, like the furniture design, product display, wall decor and lighting. Voila! In four months flat he has established this wonderful new place to go, for our fill of the best ice creams money can buy in Kochi.

Gelato derived from the Latin word for frozen - 'gelatus' is the Italian word for - ice cream. It is basically a soft ice cream made with whole milk, cream, eggs, sugars infused with a mix of flavoring of fruit and nut purees. The 59 year old veteran Parma-born and based Italian Gelato Maestro - Maurizio, brings the authentic tastes of Italy to life here using the very best Telme-  ice cream machines, for leavening, mixing, regenerating, maintaining, tempering, pasteurizing and shock freezing the mixtures. This master ice cream maker, with 40 years international experience, in such diverse places like China and Japan, presents 20 distinct mouth-watering flavors of gelato. The exotic flavors being served here are listed below:-

1.   Passion Fruit

2.   Pistachio

3.   Raisins

4.   Coconut

5.   Cherry

6.   Hazelnut

7.   Milk & Strawberry

8.   Fruits of the Forest

9.   Chocolate

10.  White Chocolate

11.  Chocolate Orange

12.  Pineapple Sorbetto

13.  Raspberry Sorbetto

14.  Strawberry Sorbetto

15.  Coffee

16.  Crunch

17.  Vanilla

18.  Ferrero Rocher

19.  Italian Tiramisu

20.  Italian Butterscotch

The above choice of gelatos are served at the shop in 100g cones priced at Rs 50, and also in small 100g, medium 150g and large 200g cups priced at Rs 50/80/100 respectively. There is also the option of having fresh whipped cream on top (Panna) at an extra charge of Rs 20.

In addition to the above cups and cones options, one can choose to have a 'Frappe' - a kind of milkshake in Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry and Banana flavours at Rs 80. Two other variants on offer are the 'Spagnola' - which is Vanilla Gelato with Amarena Cherry and whipped cream and the 'Affogato al Caffe' which is again a Vanilla Gelato with Espresso and whipped cream. Both are priced at Rs 100. Ice Cream Cakes are available at Rs 700 per kg. All the above prices are inclusive of all taxes. At these rates, which are an absolute steal - "Go Italian" - why should anyone now go for anything less. This place is open from 11 in the morning to midnight all seven days a week.

If you haven't yet been to this place, it is high time you rushed to savor these frozen luscious, delectable, delicacies in cream.

Address :

Milano Ice Cream,

Opposite Tanishq Showroom, Near Saraf Hospital,

MG Road, Ravipuram,

Kochi - 682016

Phone : 0484-3911137

Mob Mr G Segalini : +91-8281464593

Website : www.milanoicecream.com