Pawpaw gelato, a September tradition at Splendora’s.
Tastes vary, but there is one one thing on which Charlottesville chefs agree: Splendora’s Gelato is world class. For the fourteen years that PK Ross has run it, her passion and attention detail have ensured that you can’t go wrong. That said, if you freeze with indecision gazing at the case of flavors, these chef favorites may help.
Cardamom
Loren Mendosa (Lampo): “The cardamom is absolutely heavenly – the perfect floral, refreshing bite. If I could only have one flavor for the rest of my life I’d choose cardamom.”
Cookies and Cream
Charanjeet Ghotra (Milan and Kanak): “It’s so delicious and creamy.”
Dulce de Leche
Benos Bustamante (Conmole): “Super delicioso!”
Travis Burgess (Bizou, Bang!, Luce, Crush Pad) “Split pints of Dulce de Leche and Stracciatella used to be my go-to. All her flavors are so creative and well thought out, but for me it’s always the texture she achieves in the gelato that blows me away. So rich and decadent yet somehow still light.”
Gianduja + Pistachio
Melissa Close-Hart (Mockingbird): “My go-to order is always a scoop of gianduja and a scoop of pistachio. I’m pretty classic on my gelato choices. But, I’m always up for trying PK’s amazing flavor combinations that her imagination comes up with.”
Jalapeno Corn Cookie
Norkeita Goins (Caked Up Cville): “It had a beautiful and natural sweet corn scented flavor with the addition of Baker No Bakery’s jalapeño sweet corn cookie for added texture. Absolutely delicious.”
Miso Cherry
Scott Smith (Bodo’s Bagels): “PK’s inventiveness, brilliant sourcing, and palate are on full display in this perfectly balanced, apotheosizing twist on a standard flavor. Transcendent.”
Pawpaw
Laura Fonner (Common House): “All of her flavors are amazing, but it is the locally foraged and unique flavors PK creates that are the best.”
Craig Hartman (The BBQ Exchange, Exchange Cafe): “Crazy good. I wish I had invented it myself.”
Jen Naylor (Umma’s): “My favorite flavor is pawpaw during pawpaw season.”
Popcorn
Harrison Keevil (Multiverse Kitchens): “My favorite was a popcorn flavor based on the popcorn that we used to start dinners at Brookville.”
Raspberry
John Shanesy (Belle): “PK’s raspberry gelato is the signifier of the retreat of winter and moving forward into enjoying spring and summer with my family eating frozen treats.”
Salted Caramel
Gail Hobbs-Page (Caromont Farm): “I crave the salted caramel. PK knows that and leaves care packages in my freezer during kidding season. I eat it for supper after a very long day of farming and cheesemaking.”
Sampler Flight
Sober Pierre (Pearl Island): “My favorite flavors are the flexibility of the Sampler Flight. A wonderful option that feeds my family’s unique preferences.”
Strawberry and Rose Petal
Gerry Newman (Albemarle Baking Co.): “My favorite was the pairing of strawberry and rose that she once served me. It was one of the most M.F.K. Fisher experiences I’ve had in Charlottesville.”
Thai Iced Tea
Chris Dunbar (The Alley Light owner): “For the past 8 years, PK has surprised The Alley Light staff with impromptu deliveries that illustrate not only her talent, but her generosity. For people like PK, hospitality isn’t a job, it’s part of who they are. If I had to pick though, I could eat the Thai Iced Tea flavor forever.”