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Sunday, December 20, 2015

Ciccone & Sons Gelateria, Redfern

Creme brulee gelato at Ciccone & Sons Gelateria, Redfern Sydney food blog review

These hot summer days are made for gelato. Gone are the days when you'd cool down with a Zooper Dooper or a Sunny Boy. Today's kids - both big and small - are more likely to be clamouring for the cold satisfaction of freshly churned gelato. Unless you've been completely off Instagram, Ciccone & Sons must have registered on your radar. After opening up shop in the depths of winter, they've become Sydney's most popular kid on the block as we hit heatwave season.

Vintage posters and bunting inside Ciccone & Sons Gelateria, Redfern Sydney food blog review
Whimsical decor inside Ciccone & Sons

The small and unassuming shopfront sits among a neighbourhood of 2nd-hand shops and neighbourhood fruit shops and bakeries on Redfern's Regent Street. Floor-to-ceiling glass folding doors offer a peek inside for passing drivers. The decor is a charming mix of memorabilia, including vintage posters, an old-fashioned cash register, bunting and an intriguing pair of boys lederhosen. Two long benches provide a communal rest stop for gelato customers, but the majority of people seem happy to takeaway with cones and cups in hand.

Handwritten daily menu at Ciccone & Sons Gelateria, Redfern Sydney food blog review
The handwritten gelato and sorbetto menu changes daily

The menu changes daily, always handwritten on the clipboard outside - and on a giant scroll of brown butchers paper by the register - and always includes at least one sorbetto.

Mark Megahey, co-owner and gelato maker at Ciccone & Sons Gelateria, Redfern Sydney food blog review
Mark Megahey, co-owner of Ciccone & Sons

Chances are you'll find co-owner, Mark Megahey, inside the shop, a veteran gelato maker who racked up 15 years at Bar Italia in Leichhardt before opening his own business with business partner Sean O’Brien.

Croccantino gelato at Ciccone & Sons Gelateria, Redfern Sydney food blog review
Croccantino gelato with toffee and almonds

What sets apart Ciccone & Sons from so many other gelato makers is their use of jersey milk for a creamier texture. They also make all of their flavourings inhouse, avoiding the use of any pre-made bases or pastes. The small batch gelato run - made using two old-fashioned Carpigiani churners - means flavours are often exhausted before the day is out.

Creme brulee gelato at Ciccone & Sons Gelateria, Redfern Sydney food blog review
Creme brulee gelato

That means the chest freezer of gelato changes daily with occasional wackier flavour combos including pear and riesling; lavender and white chocolate; cucumber and rosemary; and lemon and maple. Seasonal specials so far have included whisky brulee for Fathers Day, pumpkin and burnt butter for Halloween; and burnt butter and gingerbread for Christmas. If you can't decide, they'll happily provide tastings to help you choose - although most of the time, this tends to only complicate, rather than simplify matters!

Mascarpone and strawberry gelato and buttermilk and passionfruit gelato at Ciccone & Sons Gelateria, Redfern Sydney food blog review
Mascarpone & strawberry and buttermilk & passionfruit gelato $6.50 for 2 scoops

Pepe Saya products are the secret behind the rich and buttery flavour of the mascarpone and strawberry gelato, as well as the buttermilk and passionfruit gelato. The buttermilk is one of my current favourites, its slightly yoghurty tang providing supreme refreshment on a hot summer's day.

Mascarpone and strawberry gelato at Ciccone & Sons Gelateria, Redfern Sydney food blog review
Mascarpone & strawberry gelato

And you can taste the milky richness from the Pepe Say mascarpone too. The strawberry puree folded through it has a clean berry taste that isn't too sweet or too sour.

Coffee and croccantino gelato at Ciccone & Sons Gelateria, Redfern Sydney food blog review
Coffee and croccantino $6.50 for two scoops

The coffee gelato is an instant flashback for anyone who ordered the coffee gelato at Bar Italia. It's intensely caffeinated, with a gusty bitterness. Add this to an iced coffee and you are set.

The croccantino is ideal for toffee and nut fans, a rubble of hazelnut and almond praline adding textural crunch.

Mascarpone and strawberry gelato at Ciccone & Sons Gelateria, Redfern Sydney food blog review
Mascarpone & strawberry gelato $4 for one scoop

Have we talked about price yet? $4 feels like a steal for a single scoop of jersey milk gelato, especially when the single cup is ridiculously piled up high. Two scoops will cost you $6.50. They also offer take home tubs for at-home dining pleasure.

Coffee gelato and salted cashew gelato at Ciccone & Sons Gelateria, Redfern Sydney food blog review
Coffee gelato and salted cashew gelato $6.50 for two scoops

Salted cashew gelato is an addictive combination of salty and sweet, against a buttery background of cashew nuts.

Creme brulee gelato at Ciccone & Sons Gelateria, Redfern Sydney food blog review
Creme brulee gelato and buttermilk & passionfruit gelato $6.50 for two scoops

And the creme brulee gelato is pretty spectacular, glistening shards of golden toffee interspersed among the dulce de leche base.

Buttermilk and passionfruit gelato and gianduja gelato at Ciccone & Sons Gelateria, Redfern Sydney food blog review
Buttermilk & passionfruit gelato and gianduja gelato $6.50 for two scoops

And Nutella fans will dig the gianduja gelato, a smooth mix of chocolate and hazelnut.

Mango sorbet at Ciccone & Sons Gelateria, Redfern Sydney food blog review
Mango sorbet $4 for one scoop cone

For a fruitier or dairy-free hit, the mango sorbet screams a classic Aussie summer.

Watermelon and lime sorbet at Ciccone & Sons Gelateria, Redfern Sydney food blog review
Watermelon and lime sorbet $4 for one scoop cone

And on one of several visits, I found satisfying refreshment in the watermelon and lime sorbet, spiked with a chilli hit that let the tongue with a confused tingling of both spice and coldness.

Pepe Saya buttermilk, mascarpone, creme fraiche and butter and Sungold Jersey milk at Ciccone & Sons Gelateria, Redfern Sydney food blog review
Fridge with Pepe Saya buttermilk, mascarpone, creme fraiche and butter and Sungold jersey milk

The fridge doubles as a handy pit-stop for stocking up on Sungold jersey milk or a comprehensive range of Pepe Saya products, especially his butter and proper buttermilk.

Gelato with friends at Ciccone & Sons Gelateria, Redfern Sydney food blog review
Friends who eat gelato together, stay together

And as the mercury climbs higher in the coming weeks, I expect to find myself stopping by with increasing frequency. I couldn't be happier at the thought.

Sydney food blog review of Ciccone & Sons Gelateria, Redfern


Ciccone & Sons Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Ciccone & Sons Gelateria
195 Regent Street, Redfern, Sydney

Opening hours:
Wednesday to Saturday 11am-9pm
Sunday 11am-6pm

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9 comments - Add some comment love

posted by Helen (Grab Your Fork) on 12/20/2015 02:22:00 am


9 Comments:

  • At 12/20/2015 11:17 am, Blogger Sarah said…

    This place looks incredibly awesome! So jealous of your repeat visits!! Salted cashew, yes please!

     
  • At 12/21/2015 12:28 am, Anonymous chocolatesuze said…

    ooh baby that mascarpone & strawberry gelato is calling my name!

     
  • At 12/21/2015 7:01 am, Anonymous Hotly Spiced said…

    I do love Pepe Saya products and I do know about the difference a good quality milk with a high fat content makes to ice cream - my father was in the ice cream business and I grew up with him going on about 'fat content'. I love the look of the hand written menu and it's clear these two chaps are making wonderful gelato xx

     
  • At 12/21/2015 10:11 am, Blogger gaby @ lateraleating said…

    I accidentally walked past the other day, it is walking distance from home! Will visit soon.

     
  • At 12/21/2015 9:35 pm, Anonymous Tania | My Kitchen Stories said…

    Are you kidding this is down the street from work. I better get me some .

     
  • At 12/23/2015 9:59 am, Anonymous Maureen | Orgasmic Chef said…

    I'd give my right arm for a decent gelato place on the Sunshine Coast. We have several ice cream shops but I crave the creaminess and wacky flavours that only a good gelato shop offers.

    Merry Christmas!

     
  • At 12/24/2015 6:17 pm, Anonymous missklicious said…

    the buttermilk & passionfruit is incredible! can't wait to try the other flavours over summer :)

     
  • At 12/27/2015 8:17 pm, Anonymous John - heneedsfood said…

    Wow, your mention of Sunny Boy brought back some memories. It may be a good thing that this gelateria is two suburbs away. I reckon there'd be repeat visits with me, as well.

     
  • At 1/27/2016 11:09 pm, Anonymous Sara | Belly Rumbles said…

    I think I am going to have to go get an icy cold fix soon. It's a toss between the buttermilk & passionfruit and the the creme brulee. Hmmm, who am I kidding, will order them both :p

     

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