There's a new spot in town to indulge your sweet tooth on these hot summer days.
The Gelato Bean Cafe will officially open on Monday, July 8 in the Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort in Cranbrook.
The location was home to a branch of Hot Shots Cafe for 13 years, but the popular cafe closed the spot in May to focus on its large Victoria Avenue location.
"Our hotel guests loved it and we were really sad when they left in May," said Helen Kroeker, who is heading up the Gelato Bean Cafe. "We didn't want to see the hotel not have a place to get an espresso. It's part of the hotel experience."
So the hotel is opening its own cafe in the spot, offering delicious Mario's Gelati, a Vancouver-based manufacturer of high-end Italian ice cream, as well as specialty coffee and tea, light breakfasts and lunches, and baked goodies.
The gelato is the star of the show, though, with an alternating selection of 10 different flavours offered, including vanilla bean, caramel swirl, mango coconut, pistachio, cappucino cookie and green tea.
Mario's Gelati has been making the frozen dessert in Vancouver since 1929, using local, natural produce. Its sorbetto flavours are vegan, and most gelato flavours are gluten free.
"It's such a neat company – it's family operated," said Kroeker. "To have such a quality product in Cranbrook is quite a treat."
Gelato is more dense than ice cream, she added.
"It gives it a smooth taste on the palate."
The Gelato Bean Cafe is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.