How to Pair Gelato Flavors Without Overthinking It

The most common question at the counter, after 'what is that grey one,' is 'what goes well together.' Here is how we think about it.

Contrast over similarity ¶

Two scoops of similar flavors tend to flatten each other out. A fior di latte next to a Guanaja chocolate works because the clean dairy sweetness of the fior di latte makes the bitterness of the chocolate more legible. Two fruit flavors next to each other can work if the acid levels are different, but two sweet flavors next to each other usually just taste like more of the same thing.

Dairy and sorbet together ¶

A dairy gelato next to a sorbet is almost always a good idea. The fat in the dairy base slows the melt of the sorbet and gives you a longer window to taste both. The sour cherry sorbet next to the fior di latte is the combination we recommend most often this summer. The tartness of the cherry and the clean sweetness of the milk base are doing opposite things and they are both better for it.

The black sesame question ¶

Black sesame is the flavor people are most uncertain about. It is not sweet in the way most gelato is sweet. It is nutty, slightly bitter, and the color is a deep charcoal grey that surprises people. It pairs well with the fior di latte for the same reason the chocolate does. It also pairs well with the strawberry if you want something more unusual. The bitterness of the sesame and the brightness of the strawberry are a combination we did not expect to work as well as it does.

When to use the tasting flight ¶

If you are new to the shop or the current menu has flavors you have not tried before, the tasting flight is five small tastes on a chilled slate board for $14. It is not a gimmick. It is the fastest way to figure out what you actually want before you commit to a scoop. Most people who do the flight end up with a more interesting two-scoop combination than they would have chosen on their own.

The current board is posted every Wednesday. If you want a recommendation before you come in, the questions we get asked page has some guidance, or you can email us at hello@islebrookcrest.com.