Food and Drink

This Sydney Gelato Maestro is Making Degustations Cool Again

Think mushroom gelato with truffles.

gelato degustation

Degustation is a French word for ‘tasting,’ and until recently, degustations were reserved for the wealthy. That’s all changing now. Degustations are becoming more accessible and reworded to tasting menus. You can find them in restaurants all over Australia that range from around $65 per person to as much as $300 per person. Although, one place I didn’t expect to find a degustation menu is at a gelateria.

Zini Contemporary Gelateria is helmed by Matteo Zini, who brings his Bologna heritage and machinery to the shop. After years of studying and mastering gelato, Zini opened his first gelateria, La Macelleria Gelateria, in Brisbane and opened his Sydney concept late last year in the new Quay Quarter Lanes.

Inside, a modern interior with light pastel colours adds a touch of playfulness to the serious gelato inside. This year, Zini has pushed the boundaries by offering gelato degustations.

“We hosted a vegan gelato degustation which wasn’t as popular, but our Asian-inspired degustation was a hit,” he says.

Inspired by Asia’s diverse continent, Zini offered attendees four gelatos, including Genmaicha gelato, a rare and delicious tea from Osaka, Japan, Dragonfruit and Lime sorbet, Early Grey and Yuzu Sorbet, and a Coconut Pandan Gelato.

Each gelato was created from a specific memory or experience of Zini’s travels. “The Early Grey and Yuzu Sorbet idea came from a cocktail I tried in a hidden bar inside a library in Shanghai, China,” says Zini.

According to Zini, this isn’t his first gelato degustation. In Brisbane, at La Macelleria Gelateria, he offered gelato degustations which people loved. “I noticed no one was doing it in Sydney, and I wanted to offer something different,” he says.

The next degustation Zini is working on is none other than a truffle gelato—it’s truffle season, after all. The Truffle Degustation sold out within minutes, but there’s still room in the second seating here.

According to Zini, the truffle experience is the most exciting yet. “truffles aren’t cheap, but I wanted to give people a taste of truffles without forcing them to remortgage a property,” he says.

The truffle degustation will feature a custard yolky gelato with truffle shavings. This recipe was inspired by how people eat truffles in Piedmont, the Italian land of truffles: simply shaving fresh truffles on top of egg yolk. So, this is an egg yolk-based gelato with abundant fresh truffles, salt and pepper.

Next is a mushroom gelato with truffles and salt folded into it. Then he will be scooping up pecorino gelato, inspired by his famous Parmigiano Reggiano Gelato.

For dessert, white chocolate gelato balances the musky and intense aromas of fresh truffles, and the roasted Iranian pistachios give a satisfying crunch.

Tickets are only $52.78 for the degustation experience, which includes a coffee on arrival, tasting, and a take-home 500ml gelato tub of the four flavours you just tried.

According to Zini he will continue creating gelato degustations.

“Every time we announce a degustation, it sells out in minutes. We want to continue offering our customers and gelato lovers a unique experience that won’t break the bank.”

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Food and Drink

Red Rooster Is Serving Free Chicken and Piping Hot Cash This Christmas in July

Get your early dose of festive cheer.

Red Rooster Christmas in July
Instagram / @redrooster_au

The cold weather in most parts of Australia coinciding with EOFY celebrations is the closest thing that we’ll get to snowy Christmas vibes. And if you’re in dire need of some festive cheer after the first six months of 2023, grab your ugly sweater and head to your nearest Red Rooster for Xmas in July deals.

From June 29 – July 31, 2023, Red Rooster is serving up free food items, a chance to win $10,000 or one of 10 merch packs valued at $400 and other fun prizes. All you have to do is sign up as a Red Royalty member and spend $5 on at a location near you or online.

Each week there’ll be new delicious deals and prizes to win. The week one deals have already dropped and they’re looking pretty tasty. You can get access to them via your Red Royalty account. The more you purchase, the more chances you have to win.

Spoiler alert: you can get 10 chicken nuggets for free, right now. Brb running to Red Rooster.

Terms and conditions apply. Visit Red Rooster’s Christmas in July to see all the deals.

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