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Nestled in a row of shophouses at Block 506, Bishan Road 11, is a nondescript-looking gelato café that serves one-of-a-kind flavours you can’t discover wherever else in Singapore.
Working diligently behind the counter as a bunch of youngsters crowd in entrance of the ice cream show on a Saturday afternoon are 31-year-old founder, Damien, and his fiancée, 32-year-old Hao Zhen.
A Candy Dream
Damien (left) and Hao Zhen (proper) / Picture Credit score: Vulcan Publish
Established in February this yr, Denzy Gelato’s completely different flavours have been all impressed by Damien’s travels around the globe and are all laboriously and lovingly constituted of scratch.
“A few of our distinctive flavours I tasted them whereas travelling and thought they aren’t present in Singapore, so I believed it might be a good suggestion to deliver these flavours right here,” Damien advised Vulcan Publish.
For instance, the flavour, Persian Prince, makes use of stone-ground almonds, ready 10 hours prior, and the saffron herb to create the nutty and unique gelato.
Earlier than Damien grew to become a gelatician, he had labored as a recruiter for six years, specialising within the FMCG and tech industries, after graduating from the College of Sydney with a level in Economics.
Hao Zhen serving up a buyer’s order of gelato on waffle / Picture Credit score: Vulcan Publish
Hao Zhen is an accountant and helps out in the course of the weekends or when Damien’s wanting fingers.
Rising up influenced by his father, who’s a prepare dinner, Damien mentioned that he’s at all times had a ardour for meals.
So beginning a enterprise in F&B was one thing he has at all times had in thoughts.
“I bought that dream to my accomplice and collectively we emptied our financial savings to begin the enterprise,” Damien mentioned.
The couple poured in $160,000 to open Denzy Gelato.
“I settled on the concept of gelato because it was one thing I might choose up rapidly and have extra management over.”
The wonder about gelato is that its like a clean canvas and we might comply with developments and fads by taking part in round with taste combos.
It’s A Doozy, ‘Denzy’!
When requested what does Denzy imply, Damien defined that it’s a wordplay on the phrase, ‘frenzy’.
He hopes that their clients will affiliate the push of pleasure once they style or see the gelato he makes.
The flavours, Persian Prince and Blondie Seashore have been impressed by Damien’s time in Italy the place he spent a number of weeks studying find out how to make gelato.
Elderflower Mojito happened when Damien and Hao Zhen have been on a vacation in Bali and located the rum-based drink so refreshing, he determined to show it right into a gelato, sans the alcohol as a result of it might be overpowering.
“Some flavours take some time to get the steadiness proper however we intention to introduce new flavours each few weeks to maintain issues contemporary,” he mentioned.
He launched Whisky & Salted Pecan Brittle flavour for Father’s Day and the Ruby Chocolate flavour as a part of the brand new weekly flavour, however they have been so standard, he determined to maintain them on the common line-up.
As for the basic Vanilla, Darkish Chocolate, and Skinny Darkish Chocolate flavours he serves, Damien shared that they use actual, high quality Tahitian vanilla pods that they extract in-house and premium darkish chocolate respectively.
“Whereas we attempt to deliver adventurous flavours, we provide some classics to achieve out to clients in search of for one thing acquainted,” he defined.
“Hopefully, they are going to be enticed to take the step into the unknown!”
Seeing The Candy Facet Of Enterprise
“It’s by no means straightforward to arrange a brand new enterprise, from discovering an acceptable location to getting the related approvals from authorities, in addition to making certain that the enterprise has adequate working capital to remain afloat,” Damien mentioned.
“Every little thing was utterly new to us and nothing might have ready us for this.”
He added that on a regular basis a brand new problem presents itself however they’ve to remain targeted and down to earth to sort out one impediment at a time.
“Nicely, I suppose that’s the enjoyable a part of entrepreneurship!”
Working lengthy hours is frequent within the F&B business, and for a heartland gelatician like Damien, his life virtually revolves round operating the enterprise.
Whereas automation is welcome in most companies, some issues require that human contact.
In relation to getting ready the components, for instance for Persian Prince, Damien defined that stone-grinding the nuts permits them to manage the standard and style of the almond paste that goes into the gelato.
“It’s 100% pure nuts, no preservatives, no synthetic flavourings. As a result of we don’t have industrial equipments, we take an extended time to grind down the nuts so there’s no gritty feeling within the mouth.”
“Doing it ourselves, additionally permits us to go on price financial savings to our clients.”
Extra Candy Happenings To Come
Salted Caramel on waffle and Cereal Milk affogato / Picture Credit score: Vulcan Publish
Since opening its doorways simply six months in the past, Denzy Gelato already has garnered loyal help from a handful of returning clients.
Damien revealed that they’ve already acquired invites to open new shops however he thinks that it’s nonetheless too quickly, a minimum of for this yr.
“We hope that we will attain out to individuals out of the Bishan neighbourhood too,” he mentioned, a Bishan resident himself.
With so many dessert-café institutions in Singapore who’ve made a reputation for themselves, we requested Damien if he hopes Denzy Gelato will turn into like a ‘Creamier of Bishan’ or a ‘Sunday People of Bishan’.
He answered, “It’s good to be synonymous to these established manufacturers on the market. However I hope we’re additionally capable of carve out our personal distinctive id.”
“We wish to have the ability to deliver Denzy Gelato to extra individuals in Singapore and share the happiness, proceed to think about new flavour combos and produce new experiences to our clients.”
Proper now, Damien intends to concentrate on rising in different areas comparable to occasions and supplying to cafés and eating places first, so you may anticipate to style a few of Denzy Gelato’s distinctive flavours elsewhere.
Featured Picture Credit score: Vulcan Publish
