Ginger Gelato

Tucked away just off the High Street, this newly opened gelato shop deserves to become one of the hidden gems of Winchester. Opened by the owners of Ginger Two almost opposite, Ginger Gelato is the purveyor of top class gelato, ice cream and frozen yoghurt
Staffed by the irrepressible Claire on the day that we visited, my girlfriend and I were offered samples, knowing full well that it would be impossible to resist once tasted. One taste of the sweet aromatic mango sorbet and I knew that I was powerless to say no and my girlfriend was equally enthusiastic about her sample of strawberry cheesecake
We had seen the knickerbocker glory offer outside the shop and decided to forego a light lunch at Ginger Two in favour of one of those here instead. We went with the mango and strawberry cheesecake flavours already tasted and added vanilla for our third scoop. Claire completed the creation with sauce, fruits and whipped cream, all in a funky bendy glass. We ate in the small seating area, which is adorned by paintings by the owners’ 2 children (incidentally, this is why their other place is called Ginger Two)
The sorbets were light and packed with fruit and the vanilla was a revelation. Having been worried that it may be a little boring, its creamy luxury perfectly offset the big hits of the fruit. It was a fantastic alternative to a conventional lunch
You can customise your own concoction by mixing and matching flavours, different fruits, sauces and finishing touches like mini marshmallows. Perhaps offering other ready made creations would be nice — I’m know to be partial to a banana split!
They will also turn their gelato into milkshakes and smoothies and there’s a selection of tea, coffee, soft drinks and cakes
The lady next to us was enthusing about her mint and chocolate ice cream, so that may just be my next flavour to try. Oh yes, I’ve already decided that I’ll be back and I hope they get a loyalty scheme up and running soon
Incidentally, they will pack gelato for takeaway into a handy cold resistant container, which will keep it cool for an hour — perfect for a picnic perhaps