Image credit: Messina
When I moved to Sydney, one of the things that prompted an eyebrow raise was just how obsessed Sydneysiders are with Gelato Messina – it’s next level.
The gelataria – that started life in Darlinghurst in 2002, and is now exporting around Australia and as far as Las Vegas – is held in the same regard as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Mrs Macquarie’s Chair and the sand on Bondi Beach.
* puzzled face *
At any of the 11 Messina stores in Sydney, you’ll find lines longer than those at Sydney Airport. And to pass your Sydney citizenship test you need to be fluent in all 35 of Messina’s regular flavours and have a favourite combination (apparently Italian nougat and tiramisu is a dream match – much more compatible than any of the couples on Married at First Sight).
Sure. I’ll have the odd scoop and quite enjoy it, but I don’t think it’s worth going Lady Gaga over, especially when Royal Copenhagen is lineless a few doors down.
And perhaps it’s because I first discovered Messina in Melbourne. Where the thought of eating ice cream (when the temperature was in the single digits and you couldn’t feel your nose) was about as appealing as eating a raw onion with its skin on – although Tony Abbott might disagree.
Sitting there perplexed, I thought who better to explain to me the fanaticism around Gelato Messina than my good gal friend Sarah – a girl who’s eaten Messina off a stranger’s spoon, has a Messina degustation at the top of her birthday list and will sit there refreshing her phone when the week’s specials are due to land.
Sarah at the Tim Tam x Messina launch event at Bondi Icebergs
Here’s what she had to say:
How would you describe your relationship with Messina?
Well… you know how there’s a type of person who sees a dog and is compelled to pat it – it’s like their body takes over. Then once they’ve had their pat they’ll bore everyone for a solid 30 minutes explaining how cute the dog was.
Well, my husband Chris tells me that I’m just like this – except with Messina, not dogs. He thinks that if I see a Messina store, I have to cross the road for a fix, regardless of the time of day. Then I spend a good 30 minutes talking about it.
I’d like to say he’s wrong, but it’s probably the truth.
Image credit: Messina
Tell us about the first time you discovered Messina.
If I’m honest, I was actually a little disappointed. Messina’s a lot to take in that first time. I was shocked by how busy and loud (like a nightclub) the store was. There’s so much choice and you don’t want to hold up the crowd umming and ahhing. So I panicked, went with a safe flavour option and left wondering what all the fuss was about.
It was another year before someone told me you could ask for taste tests. So I went back determined to crack Messina. I tried a bunch of flavours and discovered Bounty, which is coconut milk gelato, with desiccated coconut and choc chips. That’s what did it – in that moment I fell in love!
Image credit: Messina
Why is Messina better than other gelato makers?
The specials! Each week five special flavour creations are added to the rotation and they’re out-of-this world. Anything could appear in a Messina special – from smashed up cheesecake and brownies to bacon and potato chips. Or it could just be a recreation of something in gelato form – like fairy bread, banoffee pie or lamingtons!
I also like that you can pay using the Messina App and earn points, which can be cashed in for free scoops (!!), Messina merch and tickets to Messina classes.
Also the Messina gelato cakes are the absolute best! The Black Forest ‘cake’, for example, is actually choc fondant gelato, with kirsch semi freddo, amarena cherries, a thin layer of chocolate sponge, a chocolate crackle disc and dark chocolate spray finish, topped with a cherry sorbet dome that’s encased in dark chocolate. It feeds 16 – or 1.
How often do you get Messina?
When I lived in Surry Hills, my obsession was quite bad – I would have Messina at least three times a week. The problem was I’d be at home on Instagram (Messina’s always #1 in my recent searches) and see their latest special, and I’d have to walk down to Crown Street and get it.
I was always trying to justify to Chris why it was ok for us to get another Messina, or I would just disappear and not tell him where I was going.
Now that I don’t live within walking distance from a store, the situation has improved. Although I’m not averse to having Messina delivered via Deliveroo – sometimes you just need gelato, even if it’s raining outside!
Do you have a preferred Messina store?
I love the crazy vibe of the Darlinghurst and Surry Hills stores – especially on a Saturday night. But you do need to have a solid game plan when it’s busy like this.
Messina Surry Hills. Image credit: Messina
What’s your favourite Messina flavour?
My all-time favourite flavour is the Anzac Day special. Anzac biscuits and caramel – holy hell! Lucky they only do it once a year – if it was a regular flavour I’d be there all the time! I’m actually counting down the days until 25 April, and have cleared out the freezer so I can get several tubs of the stuff.
Other gelato favourites are the birthday cake special and Bounty, while the pandan and coconut sorbet is really good. But, 98% of the time I’ll choose a special.
Image credit: Messina
Any tips for the Messina uneducated?
- Always get taste tests. Even if you think you know what you want – try the specials.
- Follow Messina on Instagram – and be prepared to drool.
- Download the Messina App – and use it.
- If it’s your first time, check out the flavours online and know what you want to try before you get in there, because if it’s busy you can’t always see the cabinets.
Image credit: Messina
Gelato Messina | Sydney locations: Bondi, Circular Quay, Darlinghurst, Miranda, Newtown, Parramatta, Penrith, Roseberry, Surry Hills, The Star and Tramsheds Glebe.
gelatomessina.com
