La Dolce Vita, the well-known ice cream parlour on Ruislip High Street, has launched Diwali-themed flavours in celebration of the festival. With over 30 years in business, the shop has a rich history tied to the family’s experience in the ice cream industry. Harrow Online spoke with Krishna, whose family owns the store, to find out more.
“La Dolce Vita has a heartfelt history rooted in our family’s passion for ice cream,” said Krishna. “Amita; my mother, and Jeff; my father are the founders, which my mother comes from a background where our family has over 40 years of experience in the ice cream industry, so you could say it’s in our blood! We previously owned branches of Baskin Robbins all over North West London, but my mum always dreamed of creating an Italian, and more personal, authentic experience where we are able to manufacture the ice cream fresh ourselves.
“A visit to the chic resort of Riccione on the Adriatic coast is what initially inspired the Italian dream, where my mum fell in love with the style of Italian gelateria and cafe style culture. The Italian dream came to life with La Dolce Vita, where we bring the rich flavours of Italian ice cream / gelato together with high quality coffee in a fun, welcoming space. Over the years we’ve evolved, but our commitment to quality and family tradition remains at the heart of everything we do.”
The Ruislip location has been around for over 30 years and was formerly a Baskin Robbins before rebranding as La Dolce Vita around a decade ago. Krishna noted, “Our original Ruislip store has been here for over 30 years, and was once Baskin Robbins. We changed over to our own brand; La Dolce Vita around 10 years ago and also we decided to open in a second location; Hatch End. In our Hatch End store we created a slightly different concept: a cosy, sit-down coffee shop vibe where customers could enjoy sandwiches, desserts, coffee and, of course, our ice cream.
“We’ve since sold the Hatch End store, but you can find us in Ruislip High Street where we highlight and focus on our specialty ice creams, ice cream cakes, milkshakes and coffee in a fun and friendly atmosphere. We are open everyday from 11am to 11pm, ready to serve you!”
Among the Diwali offerings, Krishna shared that they have a special mango cheesecake ice cream crafted specifically to capture the celebration’s spirit. “Our Diwali-themed mango cheesecake ice cream is crafted to capture the spirit of the celebration. Mango is a beloved fruit with a special place in Indian culture, cherished for its rich flavour and deep connection to India’s identity. By curating this iconic taste into a creamy yet fruity cheesecake ice cream, we’ve created a treat that brings people together, just like Diwali itself. It is a delicious way to share joy, celebrate tradition and make sweet memories with loved ones.”
The Diwali flavours, including a coconut and pistachio-based option called Diwali D’Light, will be available for a limited time. “Our Diwali flavours are indeed available for a limited time as they are specially crafted to add a sense of novelty and excitement to the celebration,”
Krishna said. “Diwali D’Light is our most requested flavour as it is super delicious and replicates the taste of a popular Indian sweet called ‘Barfi’. Diwali D’light is a coconut ricotta based ice cream, with a pistachio ribbon, chocolate ribbon with pistachios and almonds added throughout.”
Looking ahead, La Dolce Vita has festive plans for Christmas with flavours to be announced soon. “We love Christmas and have some festive flavours up our sleeve for Christmas this year. While I can’t reveal too much, I can tell you that last year we featured Christmas Pudding and Cinnamon and Plum which were a big hit. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @ladolcevitalondon where we announce all our new and limited-time flavours.”
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
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