Introducing: The Boreal Gelato Company, Parkdale’s new place for a scoop and a seat
Inside the city’s newest scoop shop (Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
The Boreal Gelato Company , Parkdale’s laid-back new scoop shop and café, is a breath of cold, fresh air after the slew of recent hipster café openings along Queen West. Owner Melanie Clancy originally considered opening up shop over by Trinity Bellwoods Park, but found herself too smitten with her own hood to head further east. Not wanting to infringe on the business of her neighbourhood pals—like the crew from The Mascot across the street—and noting the absence of a family-friendly hangout spot, she decided a gelateria would be the perfect addition to the strip.
The airy space is outfitted with café-style tables and Wi-Fi, but the stools up-front are perfect for a Queen West people-watching break after a morning of vintage shopping. Rorschach-esque illustrations from a local artist hang on the walls, and an upright freezer is decorated with a graffiti-like illustration of a kid viciously devouring an ice cream cone. Clancy repurposed her grandma’s old dining room hutch as a waste disposal unit, and used a piece of reclaimed wood from a building at Queen and Dovercourt for the front of her main counter.
The gelato is all made from scratch in-house, with no more than five ingredients per flavor—“certainly nothing unpronounceable,” Clancy says. The selection rotates based on seasonal offerings and the owner’s whim. Her current favourites? Raspberry Sorbet (“it’s raspberry season!”), Triple Chocolate Crunch and Hazelnut Cookie Crunch. Waffle cones are the real deal—there are no flimsy paper-like bases here—and anti-cone-ites can rest easy thanks to biodegradable packaging.
Scoops start at $2.75 while 500 ml take-home tubs are $12. Vegans can enjoy the milk-free sorbet, and a sugar-free variant for diabetics is in the works. For those who cannot bear the thought of going without their caffeine fix, a fair-trade, organic Americano ($2.50) or latte ($3.50) is also available. An extra $1.50 will transform your espresso into an affogato with a scoop of vanilla on top.
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80122 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Outside the Queen West gelato shop Introducing: The Boreal Gelato Company https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-outside.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-outside.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-outside.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-boreal-gelato/slide/boreal-outside/ boreal-outside 0 0
Outside the Queen West gelato shop
80121 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) The front of the main counter is made of wood reclaimed from a building at Queen and Dovercourt Introducing: The Boreal Gelato Company https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-inside-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-inside-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-inside-2.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-boreal-gelato/slide/boreal-inside-2/ boreal-inside-2 0 0
The front of the main counter is made of wood reclaimed from a building at Queen and Dovercourt
80102 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) A scoop of Banana Chocolate Chip gelato Introducing: The Boreal Gelato Company https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-clancy.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-clancy.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-clancy.jpg 468 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-boreal-gelato/slide/boreal-clancy/ boreal-clancy 0 0
A scoop of Banana Chocolate Chip gelato
80106 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) The tables and Wi-Fi encourage lingering Introducing: The Boreal Gelato Company https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-inside.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-inside.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-inside.jpg 468 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-boreal-gelato/slide/boreal-inside/ boreal-inside 0 0
The tables and Wi-Fi encourage lingering
80111 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Stools along the window are perfect for Queen Street people watching Introducing: The Boreal Gelato Company https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-stools.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-stools.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-stools.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-boreal-gelato/slide/boreal-stools/ boreal-stools 0 0
Stools along the window are perfect for Queen Street people watching
80114 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) I scream, you scream, we all scream for...gelato? Introducing: The Boreal Gelato Company https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-we-all-scream.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-we-all-scream.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-we-all-scream.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-boreal-gelato/slide/boreal-we-all-scream/ boreal-we-all-scream 0 0
I scream, you scream, we all scream for…gelato?
80109 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: The Boreal Gelato Company https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-rorschach.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-rorschach.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-rorschach.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-boreal-gelato/slide/boreal-rorschach/ boreal-rorschach 0 0
80108 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: The Boreal Gelato Company https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-prices.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-prices.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-prices.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-boreal-gelato/slide/boreal-prices/ boreal-prices 0 0
80104 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Clancy repurposed her grandmother’s old hutch as a waste disposal unit Introducing: The Boreal Gelato Company https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-hutch-1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-hutch-1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-hutch-1.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-boreal-gelato/slide/boreal-hutch-1/ boreal-hutch-1 0 0
Clancy repurposed her grandmother’s old hutch as a waste disposal unit
80105 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: The Boreal Gelato Company https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-hutch-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-hutch-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-hutch-2.jpg 468 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-boreal-gelato/slide/boreal-hutch-2/ boreal-hutch-2 0 0
80120 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) An antique ice cream churn Introducing: The Boreal Gelato Company https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-churn.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-churn.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-churn.jpg 468 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-boreal-gelato/slide/boreal-churn/ boreal-churn 0 0
An antique ice cream churn
80107 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) A small selection of inukshuks decorates the cash register area Introducing: The Boreal Gelato Company https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-inukshuks.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-inukshuks.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-inukshuks.jpg 468 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-boreal-gelato/slide/boreal-inukshuks/ boreal-inukshuks 0 0
A small selection of inukshuks decorates the cash register area
80103 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) The upright freezer is decorated with a wild, graffiti-inspired illustration Introducing: The Boreal Gelato Company https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-freezer.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-freezer.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-freezer.jpg 468 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-boreal-gelato/slide/boreal-freezer/ boreal-freezer 0 0
The upright freezer is decorated with a wild, graffiti-inspired illustration
80110 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: The Boreal Gelato Company https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-scoop.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-scoop.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-scoop.jpg 468 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-boreal-gelato/slide/boreal-scoop/ boreal-scoop 0 0
80101 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Inside the ice cream display case Introducing: The Boreal Gelato Company https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-case-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-case-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-case-2.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-boreal-gelato/slide/boreal-case-2/ boreal-case-2 0 0
Inside the ice cream display case
80100 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Inside the ice cream display case Introducing: The Boreal Gelato Company https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-case-1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-case-1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-case-1.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-boreal-gelato/slide/boreal-case-1/ boreal-case-1 0 0
Inside the ice cream display case
80112 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Take-home tubs Introducing: The Boreal Gelato Company https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-tubs.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-tubs.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-tubs.jpg 624 468 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-boreal-gelato/slide/boreal-tubs/ boreal-tubs 0 0
Take-home tubs
80113 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Waffles cones Introducing: The Boreal Gelato Company https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-waffle-cones.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-waffle-cones.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/boreal-waffle-cones.jpg 468 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-boreal-gelato/slide/boreal-waffle-cones/ boreal-waffle-cones 0 0
Waffles cones
The Boreal Gelato Company , 1312 Queen St. W., 647-352-7717, borealgelato.ca .
super disappointed with Boreal. I work in Parkdale and have gone to get lunch here a few a times. Each time the Mac & Cheese is bland as hell, no flavour. Everything is over priced and falvorless. The only good thing is the Gelato, Sandwhiches are tiny and nothing special. This area needs a new lunch spot asap!