How many sugar destinations can Church Street in Montclair accomodate? Well, apparently at least two more.
Gelato Giuliana serves 18 brilliant and beautiful premium Italian gelati as stunning to the eye as they are to the palate. Gelato Giuliana promises “an authentic Italian experience” where you’ll find coffee drinks, shakes, pastry, and a gelato sandwich served “en brioche ($5.95).” Small cones are $1.95, medium (2 scoops) $3.95, large $5.50. Apparently gelato is as common in Italy as burgers are in the US, and it’s eaten ’round the clock – even for breakfast.
The Gelateria opened quietly last week at 49 Church Street – in fact I believe I was their second customer. On Friday night, during the outdoor film screening, we hear they were mobbed. Inside the modern sweet shop, sit at the retro bar or at tables in the back. They also have sidewalk seating! Giuliana Maravalle owns her artisanal gelato business in Connecticut and supplies the Church Street store with all the flavors. To celebrate their opening, Giuliana will be visiting Gelato Giuliana on Sunday June 27 between 6pm-9pm. They’ll be giving out free samples of iced chocolate, and if you ask nicely, I’ll bet you can get a free taste on a cute little wooden spoon like I did. Mixed berries gelato – YUM. Open daily, 10am-10pm. (973) 744-6464
Cupcakes And More opened its newest store in the old Gimme’ Jimmy’s space across from Raymond’s, continuing the carb overload tradition at 25 Church Street. (They also have shops in Totowa and West Caldwell.) The vitrines are filled with luscious, colorful, super-sized cupcakes of all varieties. If you love frosting and fillings, this is the place for you. But you may want to think about sharing the indulgence! The young staff shared their personal favorite flavors: cheesecake, oreo, cherry filled chocolate cherry and the decadent “apple caramel” – apple and cinnamon filled cupcake, topped with cream cheese frosting and drizzled with caramel. If none of those sound good, there are about 45 other flavor combinations on the cupcake menu…plus, they sell brownies, cookies, and pastries. Wash it down with tea, soft drinks, or coffee. Cupcakes are $3.25 and $3.75 for filled. Cakes are $19.95, and $24.95 for custom orders. Baristaville now has its late night dessert place – Cupcakes Galore is open until midnight on Friday and Saturday. The rest of the week, they are open daily, 10-10.
Oh, in case you want to satisfy your sweet tooth elsewhere on Church Street, here’s your guide: Dulce for retro candy in bulk, Applegate’s ice cream, Red Mango for fruity frozen yogurt, pastries at Bean’s Coffee, British chocolates at Irish and More, Fair Trade organic chocolates at Terra Tea Salon, desserts and soda fountain treats at Raymond’s. I may have forgotten one, but I’m getting a sugar rush just writing about this.
More sugar on our radar: The sugar police reports that further down Bloomfield Avenue, Super Scoop will open late July next to Smashburger.. Still under construction, I looked over the architect’s drawings of this restaurant-scale shop; they’ll be scooping 28 flavors of ice cream, 8 italian ices and you’ll find a salad bar-style topping bar with all sorts of fixin’s for soft serve frozen yogurt. The sugar daddies behind the operation are Baristaville locals Ralph Holmin and Mike Melia. Also on the menu: gourmet cupcakes, espresso, waffles, and a variety of frozen drinks. Indoor seating. Find them on Facebook.com/superscoopicecream.
$3.25 for a cupcake?! You’ve got to be kidding.
Make the drive to Mr. Cupcakes in Clifton, where they’re very tasty, and $1.50 each.
Ahhhh, those must be the little voices I’ve been hearing when I’m sitting in my office trying to work… it’s cupcakes, calling to me to come and get them.
Damn you nearby sweets purveyors!!
To be fair, they are much larger than your standard cupcake.
OK, like I said… things like this do actually call out to me (sorry, dear pancreas). So I wandered over to this cupcake shack to get some fortification for my last hour of work.
My opinion? A resounding ‘meh.’ I didn’t have a stuffed cupcake; on the one I got, I thought there was way too much frosting, and the frosting itself was too heavy (and I would call myself a frosting fan!)
So all in all… for me, even a ‘meh’ cupcake is still pretty good, and this one would fall in that category. But for a really special cupcake, I’d go over to the joint in Nutley that has the stuffed cupcakes. Those are orgasmic.
Worst.RedVelvetCupcake.Ever!
A *good* cupcake shop would be perfect there….
Give me a good ‘ol Hostess Cupcake anyday
The last thing I need is a cupcake. I gained three pounds just clicking on this link.
Mr Cupcake is pretty good. But if 1.50 is still too much; try Jencarelli’s on Broad St where the basic flavors (choc and vanilla in all the permutations) are sixty-five cents. The premium flavors (key lime, etc) are 1.99. The pistachio is divine!
Tried the nocciola ( hazelnit ) gelato at Gelato Giuliana this afternoon, and was immediately transported back to Rome – creamy, smooth, and very delicious. Best of luck.
I tried out Gelato Giuliana and the young girls working there were very nice. I was indecisive and they let me try four flavors without any attitude, and I finally settled on the Cappucino. It was delicious! I also got a piece of chocolate. I think next time I may have to splurge and get their version of an ice cream sandwich – gelato served in brioche!
As for the new cupcake joint, I agree, they’re just too large!
Went to the gelato place on Sunday. Loved it! I had the hazelnut, kids had strawberry and coconut…all delicious. The espresso was excellent. Will be back! Much tastier than that Red Mango nonsense!
Cute shop and the counter help were very friendly. But I was disappointed with the gelato. On their website, Gelato Guiliana describes their gelato as smooth and dense. The 2 cones we got (chocolate and chocolate-mascarpone) were neither. They were almost slushy-like. And they’ve raised the price of a small cone/cup to almost $2.50.
I picked up a dozen cupcakes from Cupcakes Galore this morning for a colleague’s birthday, and within minutes of putting them out they were gone. I wholeheartedly agree that these cupcakes are leagues beyond Magnolia and Crumbs. They are, in fact, the very best cupcakes I and my fussy co-workers have ever had. Well done! Plus, the super sweet gals behind the counter are a treat!
Gimme back Gimme Jimmy’s! I had a bite of my friend’s Red Velvet, while I ordered the PB&J. Not only were these overpriced to the point where I felt like I was being robbed, but they were literally the worst.cupcakes.ever.
I tried Gelato Giuliana last night and was wonderfully pleased with the quality of the gelato. I ordered the pistachio and my boyfriend ordered the creme brulee, and both were fantastic. I finally found gelato that reminds me of the gelato I had when I was in Italy a few years ago. The only gripe I have is that I think $2.50 is a lot of money for a small cup and $4.25 is exceedingly much for the next larger size. I got a whole heap o’ gelato–many flavors and stacked high–for the equivalent of about $5 USD when I was in Italy, so this place has definitely “Montclaired” the price/product ratio. That being said, the small cup I ordered–with its charming, little paddle spoon–was filling enough…I just wish it hadn’t cost me $2.50. So, though I love the gelato, the prices will keep me from making a visit to this place anything more than the occasional treat.