Wasagaming shop a go-to for gelato

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/08/2024 (609 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As part of our Summer of Ice Cream series for Westman This Week, I’ll be visiting some of those great little ‘treateries’ in western Manitoba that so often help to give our summers a little sweetness.

WASAGAMING — When you think of the community of Wasagaming in Manitoba’s Riding Mountain National Park, what comes to mind?

The beauty of Clear Lake in the early morning air? The rollicking of tourists taking in some sun on the beach? That momentary thrill of seeing a glimpse of local wildlife down near the cabins and trails around town?

If you ask me, it’s the taste of the creamy and melty gelato cone that I bought down at The Chocolate Fox on Wasagaming Drive, that touristy thoroughfare that draws visitors from all over Canada, the United States, and beyond.

For the record, there’s nothing quite like sitting outside on a warm summer day in Riding Mountain National Park watching the world go by with some tasty gelati in your hands. Just be careful getting into it once you sit down — the summer heat makes it melt quickly. My pants and shirt also had a little taste of the medium cone I purchased ($7 for two scoops).

I chose the chocolate and lime flavours, but the young attendant at the counter swore by the pistachio gelato, which was her personal favourite. There are, of course, other flavours too, including birthday cake, salted butter caramel and coconut — to name a few. Have to say that the birthday cake blue looked a little like frozen smurf with sprinkles, but I bet my kids would love it.

On its company website, the Chocolate Fox states that “Gelato is ice cream with romance!” And there’s something to that description, because gelato is something special.

By the way, in case you’re wondering about the difference between “gelati” and “gelato,” gelati is merely the plural form of gelato. Mr. Google says gelato is a mixture of Italian ice — a sweetened dairy and egg-free fruit-based dessert — and custard. Different than ice cream perhaps, but a flavourful cousin nonetheless.

While there was a bit of a line up at the counter on the hot Tuesday afternoon that I drove out to Wasagaming, the wait was short and sweet as customers walked the shop looking at the other made-in-Manitoba products that the store carries.

The Chocolate Fox sells clothing, coffee and other tourist-friendly merchandise. What sets this spot apart is the fact that they also carry a selection of handcrafted, Manitoba-made chocolates — in this case from Mordens’ of Winnipeg, which has been making fine chocolates and confections since 1959. Truly a Manitoba classic.

I couldn’t help myself. I bought a bag of seven chocolates for $10 to take back to the newsroom. I ate a few myself, a few too many. They were delicious, particularly the dark chocolate-covered morsel that appeared to be a version of Turkish delight — a favourite of mine.

If I had but one critique for the store, it’s the lack of a garbage can outside the premises to put the messy paper that lined the outside of the cone. But the ambiance of the old wooden cabin-style structure is hard to beat.

And with so much else to see and do along Wasagaming Drive, you’ll find yourself right in the middle of the action.

Other stops nearby:

• The Velvet Dip Lakeside — Like its namesake here in Brandon, The Velvet Dip Lakeside offers all the regular favourites that Wheat City ice cream lovers have come to love, including several flavours of hard ice cream, their well-known ice cream “Sammiches,” ice cream cakes, and specialty items like parfaits, banana splits and a host of others. It’s located just down the street from The Chocolate Fox on Wasagaming Drive.

• BeaverTails Clear Lake — Although well-known for its famously flat fried pastries, you can add a scoop of ice cream to any BeaverTails product. They also serve a refreshingly cold lemonade, including their Strawberry Frozen Lemonade or the Classic. Find BeaverTails Clear Lake just across the street from The Chocolate Fox.

• Boardwalk on Clear Lake — Another well-known Clear Lake tradition is The Boardwalk on Clear Lake, located just steps away from the beach in downtown Wasagaming. The site features a latte/coffee bar, convenience store, hot food take-out restaurant and of course a great variety of ice cream flavours.