Chocolaterie has the scoop with delicious festival

LOCALS and visitors alike will all scream for ice cream this month as the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery digs into the freezer and brings out its Ice Cream Festival for another year.

Ice cream can lovers lick your way through 144 artisan flavours, create a cool picnic or savour a tasting session during the festival, which began at the Bellbrae venue on Wednesday this week and run until February 19.

Negroni Sbagliato, Yuzu & Peach, Dulce de leche Cheesecake, Balsamic Fig & Mascarpone, Buttered Croissant, Movie Night, Canadian Maple Waffle and Cashew Crunch are amongst the 144 artisan flavours being churned at the festival dedicated to all things cool and creamy.

Ice cream addicts of all persuasions will be tempted by 12 different ice creams and sorbets to discover each day in a cup or cone, or chill out over a picnic in the chocolaterie’s landscaped grounds with the daily Ice Cream Festival Picnic Box featuring 12 mini scoops to savour.

There will also be a limited-edition menu of Sensational Sundaes on offer, plus vegan-friendly, sugar-free serves, flavoured cones and special children’s delights.

True afficionados can also sign up to Ice Cream Festival Tasting Sessions to get the scoop on 12 one-off flavours. Hosted in a private tasting room by the chocolaterie’s ice cream experts, participants will get hands-on during the 45-minute session and make their own ice cream topping to take home.

Visitors to the chocolaterie during the Ice Cream Festival can also enter the draw to win 144 mega scoops of ice cream. Winners will be able to redeem their prize throughout the entire year.

“This year’s Festival is dedicated to helping ice cream lovers of all ages, persuasions and preferences enjoy an ultimate summery outing indulging in a scoop or two, or more, amongst our picturesque grounds,” chocolaterie owner Ian Neeland said.

“Our whole team of chocolatiers and pastry chefs have had a lot of fun inventing an array of different creations inspired by our own kitchen garden and orchard, local suppliers and distillers, favourite and adventurous flavour combinations – and of course some of our famous chocolates, cakes and pastry creations too.”

For more information, head to gorci.com.au