Last August, the Straight broke the news on Bella Gelateria being listed for sale. Frozen treats-lovers in the city became worried about the fate of the local establishment, and questions arose about the shocking removal of its founder and chief gelato-maker, James Coleridge.

Since then, a new owner has taken over Bella’s flagship Coal Harbour storefront, but its two sister locations no longer exist. In November 2017, Coleridge told the Straight he was preparing to make a return to Vancouver’s gelato scene in summer 2018. Determined to continue his craft, he’s now ready to launch a new gelato chain in the city.

Uno Gelato will soon open its doors at three locations around town: Kitsilano (2579 West Broadway), False Creek (601 Stamps Landing), and Coal Harbour (1055 Canada Place). Coleridge will be bringing his award-winning gelato flavours, which are made with locally and internationally sourced ingredients, to all of his new shops.

“It has been an incredible journey this past year and I am honoured to be able to share my passion and devotion to the artistry of old-world, handcrafted gelato with culinary fans everywhere,” Coleridge said in a press statement.

The gelato maestro will be bringing new recipes and gelato-making techniques to Uno, such as using birch syrup instead of white sugar, and working with raw coconut milk and water for several vegan flavours.

His small batch artisan gelato will focus on taste and seasonal flavours, which will be made using a gelato pasteurizer machine with a homogenizer to create warmer and smoother frozen treats.

“I am excited to embark on this new culinary adventure and my continued success is thanks to the amazing support of my wonderful family, friends, my delectable gelato fans and unbelievable partners who all believed in me from day one,” added Coleridge.

In addition to setting up his Uno Gelato locations around Vancouver, Coleridge will also be competing at the international Gelato Festival Europa All-Stars competition Florence, Italy this September. He has been invited back to Italy to compete with his 2012 winning gelato flavour: toasted pecan, Vancouver Island sea salt and Canadian maple syrup.

All three Uno Gelato brick-and-mortar shops are scheduled to debut in the coming weeks.