MIDDLEBORO — Italian Gem Cafe owner Jessica Gemma just added another “gem” of Italian cuisine to the eatery she opened up downtown last fall: gelato. 

The cafe delivered on the words promised in the “gelato coming soon” sign that had been posted for weeks with its first gelato sales on June 14, just in time for last week’s intense heat.

“Gelato is one thing that I always loved when I went back to Italy, and it’s not always easy to find around here,” said Gemma on why she decided to add the dessert to her business offerings. 

She saw it as a way to expand her menu and accomplish her goal of “continuing to expose people to different things that are Italian,” said the business owner.  

Italian Gem Cafe offers rotating flavors of gelato, as well as gelato-inspired desserts such as “affogato,” which contains a scoop of gelato with whipped cream and a pizelle cookie, topped off with a shot of espresso. 

Faithful customer Rachael Dooley had been anxiously waiting to try the cafe’s gelato and wasn’t disappointed when she came in for a midday treat on Saturday, June 22.  “It’s delicious,” Dooley said as she spooned a bite of vanilla bean gelato into her mouth. 

Dooley lives with her fiance Riley Johnson right down the street from the cafe, she said. She assured that she would be coming to Italian Gem Cafe even more often than she already does, something Johnson admitted he would be doing as well.

“I wish I didn’t live so close, I’m going to spend so much money,” said Johnson as he scooped up a spoonful of mango sorbet gelato.