Kentucky chocolate company branches out with gelato, specialty ‘dirty’ sodas
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Chocomania opened Meltease gelato shop on Feb. 5 (this year).
- Meltease offers in-house gelato plus Mini Melts dirty sodas, floats and shakes.
- Meltease will begin wholesale sales soon and hopes to expand locations in a year.
A Central Kentucky shop known for its decadent sweets, including the viral Dubai chocolate, has expanded with a new concept.
Chocomania opened Meltease, a gourmet gelato shop, in Fayette Mall on Feb. 5. Meltease also offers fun desserts and treats, including “dirty” sodas made with Mini Melts, a version of flash-frozen ice cream.
Both businesses are owned by a quartet of sisters: Christine, Sharline, Iris and Vanda Sawalha. While Chocomania is filled with sophisticated chocolate indulgences, Meltease is more playful.
“It’s our newest frozen dessert concept, all about hand-crafted gelato and bold rotating flavors, changing every week,” Christine Sawalha said. “We created it to bring something fresh and exciting to the mall. Customers can come in and discover something new, classic flavors as well as playful things.”
Think banana pudding gelato. And Dubai Chocolate, that sublime blend of pistachio and chocolate. There’s also tiramisu with espresso and Fruity Pebbles for those nostalgic for childhood cereal. Strawberry and berry cheesecake are big hits, she said.
“Number one since we opened is the baklava,” she said.
All the flavors are made in house, with real cream and quality ingredients, fresh fruit and premium chocolate.
And then there’s the Mini Melts. The bead-shaped ice cream pieces made from dense, higher fat ice cream are flash frozen and combined for fun and flavorful desserts such as floaties, shakes and dirty sodas with Mini Melts and soda.
“It’s popular with the kids. We have 12 flavors, and they can mix and match,” she said.
The prices are mid-range, from $5 to $11. Pint sales are coming, too.
Soon Meltease will begin selling wholesale to restaurants, and they hope to expand the concept to other locations in a year.
Meltease
Where: Inside Fayette Mall, 3401 Nicholasville Rd., near Coach and Cinnabon
Hours: Monday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Online: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586146104527
