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Hidden Toronto
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By: Robyn Burnett
When thinking about the Corso Italia area of Toronto (St. Clair West roughly between Bathurst and Keele), ice cream isn’t necessarily the first thing that comes to mind. And yet, arguably, that area has two of the best places to enjoy a cold treat whether it’s ice cream or gelato.
Years ago, when I had the opportunity to visit Italy, I fell in love with the incredible dessert known as gelato. With a flavor that is more intense than ice cream but richer than sherbert, proper Italian gelato is something that everyone should experience, especially in the summer time. While there are a few gelaterias in the city such as Hollywood Gelato on Bayview Ave. and il Gelatiere on Mount Pleasant Rd., it is still arguably La Paloma at St. Clair West and Dufferin that takes the prize having been there since 1967.
Little Italy may be associated with College Street, but you’ll find a lot more old world Italian fare in Corso Italia. I could write a whole article on the area alone (if you’re a fan of stores that have a little of everything, visit the Big Tomato). That said, on those sweltering hot summer days, taking a trip to La Paloma is a necessity. For many Torontonians who actually enjoy gelato, La Paloma isn’t much of a “hidden” gem, but for those people who don’t tend to venture out to Corso Italia, it may just be a new experience to enjoy. The flavor selection is outstanding, even though the prices are a bit higher than regular ice cream. For myself, convinced I’d never experience coconut gelato the way I did in Finale Ligure, I was taken back to that little coastal town the minute I tasted La Paloma’s version. Ah, Italy...
On the ice cream front, if you’ve got some patience and you’re interested in experiencing something a little different from the standard Baskin Robbins, it’s worth a trip to Dutch Dreams. I had driven by this unusual building over the years and never really gave it much thought. Located in a thin building on Vaughan Rd., the outside is covered in kitschy “Dutch” paraphernalia including windmills, Dutch maidens and more. In the summer, the line up to get into this tiny door was half a block, at least! So one day, feeling adventurous, my husband and I decided to give it a go.
The line up didn’t take as long as I had initially expected, and when I finally got to step through that door, I was overwhelmed by the amount of things to simply look at. The ice cream is homemade and the options are plentiful. From Moose Droppings to Tiger Tail, the flavors are definitely creative. I’m a frozen yogurt fan, so I wasn’t disappointed. The biggest sell? Homemade waffle cones from plain to chocolate dipped. The best touch is the whipped cream, fresh fruit and cookie that come with the generously piled ice cream cones. It’s a fun experience for the kids, assuming they can handle a little wait-time.
The fact is, St. Clair West has a whole bunch of hidden gems to explore, from the great knitting/organic coffee café Alterknit to a range of home-grown international restaurants to one of the better outdoor pools in the city at the Joseph J. Piccininni Recreation Centre.
But go enjoy the ice cream first.
La Paloma Gelateria & Café
1357 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto, OntarioM6E 1C5
(416) 656-2340
http://www.lapaloma.ca
Dutch Dreams
78 Vaughan Road
Toronto, ON M6C 2L7
(416) 656-6959
http://www.dutchdreams.ca
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