Dolce Spazio: 30 Years of Sweet Memories

This past Friday night to celebrate the fall equinox, I introduced a few visiting friends to one of the staples of Santa Cruz Avenue, Dolce Spazio. This "Sweet Place" has been treating the faithful of Los Gatos with a taste of authentic Italian gelato for more than three decades. 

I've always had a sentimental spot for Dolce Spazio. My aunt Karen bought the place in 1981, a few months after it opened at its original location across the street from .

A school teacher with no ice cream or restaurant experience, her venture was a trial by fire. The first time an espresso was ordered, Karen had to ask the customer to come behind the counter and help her make it.

One night while preparing a batch of fresh gelato in the large mixing machine, she left off the sealing ring that resulted in melting ice cream flooding across the tiled floor. While in grade school, my older sisters earned tips and ice cream by serving and sweeping. Tonight the air was broken up by the screams and laughter of half a dozen kids running around the plant heavy space, end-of-summer perfection.      

A stingy this is not. The tasting spoons are offered liberally to customers wanting to sample the dozen or so flavors that fill the freezer cases. You only need to stand around for a few minutes before you will hear someone enthusiastically order the Oreogasmic or Snickelicious or ask if the seasonal pumpkin gelato is available.

Dolce has fans. Newbies will look at the serving cups ranging from uno to quattro and deceptively order up, unaware of the differences between gelato and ice cream. This dessert is rich, creamy and dense. I just smile to myself as the two girls I am with order the "tre" knowing an "uno" is sufficient for myself.

Sitting outback on the small lit patio, you realize Dolce Spazio is everything quaint and authentic you hope to find on a warm summer evening. Missing is the crowd of glowing Apple products and loud hipster clothes. People huddle around tables enjoying their strong espresso, savoring the taste of their small spoons, and talking intimitately. Perhaps the best way to describe the atsmosphere is real and genuine. As the cool October weather sneaks in, be sure to stop by for a quick taste and make some sweet memories of your own.