With flavours like Pad Thai, Black Garlic Fennel Vanilla and Chocolate Crickets, one can only imagine what goes on inside Death In Venice’s gelato lab on Dundas West. Thankfully, with a Gelato Tasting & Production Tour led by founder and chef-engineer Kaya Ogruce, you won’t have to imagine it.
Since 2020, Ogruce has been offering gelato tastings and tours for groups and corporate events. During the pandemic, he even conducted them online by delivering Death In Venice pints and explaining each flavour to his virtual tour groups over video calls.
“Being able to reach many people like this was an interesting, unexpected positive thing that came out of the tough times that we faced,” he says.
Wanting to bring this wholesome experience to more gelato fans in the city, Death In Venice now offers tours through Airbnb, allowing individuals to easily join a tasting tour by booking a slot online.
At this tour of their gelato lab, guests get the chance to go behind the scenes of Death In Venice’s gelato production, including how Ogruce’s unique recipes are created with their machines and how a gelato business is run.
“Due to my engineering background, I’m able to explain the science behind gelato without making it too boring,” says Ogruce. “Once you combine this knowledge with the actual gelato tasting, guests really understand the idea and the inspiration behind the flavours and the company itself.”
At any given time, Death In Venice offers 16 rotating flavours, from signature creations like Ricotta Lemon Rosemary to stranger, seasonal concoctions, like their Halloween special, Chocolate Crickets.
“It is always pleasant to take something traditional and turn it up against its head,” says Ogruce. “Toronto is a perfect place to experiment like this.”
The comprehensive gelato tour gives guests a taste of every flavour currently available, including a good balance of dairy and non-dairy options. For those with dietary restrictions, Ogruce always makes sure to accommodate their needs with some back-up flavours.
"The tasting is just like a wine tasting; we taste flavours according to their strength of flavour and profile," explains Ogruce.
On top of learning to appreciate gelato's complexities from an expert and engineer, guests will also get the answers to their burning questions about the creative processes behind Death In Venice.
"Everybody asks where the name 'Death In Venice' comes from," says Ogruce. "I'm afraid to learn the answer to that question; you'll have to attend the tour."
Hear about Ogruce’s inspirations and wonderfully weird gelato-making methods at Death In Venice’s gelato lab tour and tasting. There are limited dates available, so hurry and book your slot through Airbnb or email Death In Venice to schedule group tours and corporate events.
