Simply Divine: La Divina Gelateria
March 17, 2008
St. Patrick’s parade goers along Magazine Street in the Irish Channel could take a break last Saturday from catching cabbages and carrots with a cool, refreshing scoop of green gelato at La Divina Gelateria. In fact, the avocado gelato is not the only “green” offering at La Divina.
Recently celebrating its one year anniversary, La Divina Gelateria has quickly become one of the gems of Magazine St.
Owners Katrina and Carmelo Turillo, after an extended European stay, returned to New Orleans with the desire to start their own business. Drawing on their experiences while living in places like London, Spain, and Italy, the Turillos arrived back home with a fresh idea in terms of both deliciousness and environmental awareness. La Divina Gelateria was born out of a desire to expose New Orleans to fresh made gelato, while operating in a socially responsible way.
For those looking to excite their palettes, La Divina offers a constantly evolving selection of homemade gelato. With flavors ranging from traditional “Pistachio” to out-of-the box concepts like “Earl Grey Tea with English Biscuits”, the selection at any given time is sure to offer something for everyone.
The best part is that all gelato sold at La Divina is made from scratch using local certified organic or chemical-free produce. Only fruits that are in season are included in recipes, meaning that favorite seasonal offerings like “Blueberry Basil Sorbet” must be enjoyed only when the time is appropriate.
La Divina is the only vendor of gelato in Louisiana to start from scratch in the production of their final product. It is simply impossible not to be impressed with the fresh and adventurous flavors brought into existence in its kitchen.
There is more than just gelato available at La Divina Gelateria. For coffee lovers the establishment features an espresso machine imported from Italy. The owners serve up rarely found authentically Italian espresso using a 1oz. shot. Additionally, a variety of sandwiches can be found. A tip to any potential newcomers: try the turkey! The combination of fresh and authentic offerings makes La Divina Gelateria the perfect place to relax European style on a nice day and watch the activity of Magazine St. stroll by.
As if bringing an incredibly tasty snack to New Orleans were not enough, the Turillos are also paving the way for a new wave of environmentally friendly business practices.
The owners are on a mission of sustainability that manifests itself in every aspect of operation. For example, when renovating the building that would house their business the Turillos installed point-source water heaters that increase energy efficiency. These heaters switch on only when there is a need and heat only exactly as much water as is required. Other measures that were taken during renovation include the installation of skylights in the kitchen for lighting purposes and the use of no-VOC paints, which release minimal pollutants when compared with commonly used paints.
Not only is the physical building designed for sustainability, but so are the serving practices of the owners. When dining inside La Divina Gelateria, customers are served on non-disposable plates. The gelato cups are bio-degradable and synthesized from corn. Even the taste-test spoons are metal and reusable. Customers can feel certain that their patronage of La Divina, beyond satisfying their gastronomic needs, promotes environmentally friendly practices in every way. The owners note that they go through this effort to be part of the solution to environmental degradation. It makes a true difference when garbage pickups can be reduced from five times a week to two times a week simply as a result of conservation.
Despite being a relatively young business, the formula embodied in the concept of La Divina Gelateria seems to be paying off. Expansion throughout the city is occurring in multiple forms. Look out for pints of your favorite gelato in Whole Foods, who recently made a deal to start carrying the fresh and creative offerings on their shelves. Visit their kiosk at the Freret Market the first Saturday of every month. Also, if you happen to be enjoying a day browsing the eclectic French Market, be sure to visit La Divina Gelateria’s new outpost, scheduled to open up by May of this year.
The Turillos have created an unprecedented business in two ways. First, their Italian inspiration brings unrivaled gelato to a city in desperate need of delectable cold treats. Second, their drive for conservation has literally created a blue-print for the successful integration of cutting-edge sustainable technology in small-businesses. There is no doubt that the model conceived of by the Turillos will be replicated by other vendors who realize that the benefits of sustainability are far-reaching and worthwhile. The city of New Orleans is better off for being exposed to the forward thinking practices of the Turillos and the incredible tastes they generate.
Hours:
Sun 9 am – 10 pm
Mon – Thur 11 am – 10 pm
Fri – Sat F 11 am – 11 pm
3005 Magazine St.
Tel. 504.342.2634
