Elena Gonnella and her brother Kenneth Eller, owners of Gelato Matto at 59th Avenue and Loop 101 (in the Fry’s Marketplace on the Northwest corner), are celebrating their first year of making gelato in the Northwest Valley.

Gelato is the smooth, flavorful Italian traditional ice cream.

Gonnella lived in New England for eighteen years after going to the University of New Mexico, and then joined family in Arizona. Ken Eller moved to Tempe in 1981 to go to ASU for graduate school after getting his degree at the University of New Mexico. Most of their relatives still live in Italy, though, and enjoy the sweet treat Gonnella remembers as a child.

“When I was growing up, we always loved Gelato.” They grew up in Italy and vacationed on the beaches near Venice!

“After deciding to move to Arizona, I began to ask myself ‘Why couldn’t I bring a product that is healthier and more refreshing to the Northwest Valley?’” Gonnella explains, “Traditional ice cream has 18 to 32 percent of butterfat, whereas gelato has only 4 to 7 percent. The fruit flavors are sorbettos made with real fruit and water based with almost zero fat. Also, gelato is kept at a higher temperature than ice cream in order to preserve the consistency. Think about it: the buttermilk in ice cream coats the taste buds with fat, and the lower temperature of the ice cream freezes them, so the flavor is dulled.”

Gonnella also pointed out that ice cream is whipped with air, whereas gelato contains almost none. And, we know how much flavor air has!

Speaking of flavors, Gelato Matto has many of them. While Gonnella admits that Chocolate is her most popular flavor, she also can’t seem to keep Lemon on the shelves.

“Ken spent 6 years visiting gelaterias in Italy researching equipment, recipes and suppliers for our shop. He wanted to recreate his favorite lemon gelato from his childhood. After many delicious attempts, he finally found the special ingredients and finished our recipe.”

In fact, Gonnella has been getting requests for multiple pans of lemon from area restaurants. Although, this isn’t the only request she has received from a restaurant. She has been commissioned by local restaurants to create special flavors for their menus.

Some of the more traditional, Italian flavors she serves include Spumone, “Stracciatella” Italian for chocolate chip , “Zuppa Inglese” (like a buttercream frosting, but not as sweet), and “Bacio” (a dark chocolate and hazelnut combination similar to the popular chocolate confection made by Perugina).

Gonnella is also proud of some of the combination desserts and other products she serves, such as traditional and gelato filled cannoli, Italian “Lavazza” espresso coffee afogato (a coffee and gelato float), gelato cakes, and the “Matto Martini” (the Italian version of a slushy paired with gelato).

Her “hot tip” for new Gelato devotees? “Try Peach gelato with champagne…it’s the best “Bellini” you will ever have!”

STORE HOURS

Monday - Thursday 11AM - 9PM

Friday and Saturday 11AM - 11PM

Sunday 11AM - 10PM


20260 N 59th Avenue, Suite 103
Glendale, Arizona 85308


Telephone:      (623) 825-4543