Cover image via SAYS
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Tucked away in Damansara Utama is a gelateria café that not only serves refreshing desserts but also supports an often-overlooked community
If you're craving handmade treats, YL's Gelateria is the place to be, where the desserts are not only freshly made but also infused with distinctly Malaysian flavours.
Everything is made in-house, with new flavours crafted to suit Malaysian tastes
While there are 11 flavours available at any given time, the gelateria's ever-changing menu means each visit could bring something new and delicious to try.
During our visit, we sampled the mango passion, kuih talam, and apple crumble pie flavours — the latter freshly released.
The kuih talam and apple pie gelati stood out — the former tasting rich and creamy with pronounced pandan and coconut milk, and the latter offering a layered, complex taste.
With its blend of apple pie flavour and cinnamon crumble, it legit tastes like apple crumble pie, only in a cool, refreshing gelato that soothes the throat and leave you wanting more.
Founder Laura Yap May Wan, better known as Mrs Khoo, summed up her flavour-selection process simply: "I make the ones I like to eat. If I don't like it, I don't make it. It's as simple as that!"
Some of the flavours featured at YL's Gelateria — matcha latte, rose hibiscus tea, and French vanilla.
Image via SAYS
Kuih talam-flavoured gelato.
Image via SAYS
Mango passion and kuih talam gelati.
Image via SAYSDid we mention everything is made fresh?
We got a behind-the-scenes look at a batch of apple crumble pie gelato in the making, and every step looked sooooo goooood.
Every gelato is made in-house with fresh ingredients, giving each scoop a rich, full-bodied texture. And the best part? They're not overly sweet!
Every gelato at YL's Gelateria is freshly made.
Image via SAYS
Apple crumble pie gelato being made fresh at the store.
Image via SAYS
Apple crumble pie gelato.
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Kuih talam gelato.
Image via SAYS
Something worth noting is that this café actually started life as an early intervention centre
Mrs Khoo's son, Khoo Yuan Li, was only 3 years old when he was diagnosed with autism, about twenty years ago.
She set up the centre to make sure Yuan Li and other children like him could get the support they needed. Two decades later, he graduated with a Diploma in Accommodating Skills from City & Guilds in the UK.
Determined to help her son live and work as a productive member of society, she and her husband set out to create a business that would suit his unique needs.
They decided on the food industry, but given the hazards of a hot kitchen, they eventually landed on desserts.
"He loves ice cream," said Mrs Khoo. That was the ultimate deciding factor.
Yuan Li is involved in every step of the process, from producing to selling the gelato.
Image via SAYS
Mrs Khoo and her son, Yuan Li.
Image via SAYSMrs Khoo didn't start YL's Gelateria just for her son; it's also a platform to support the community of persons with disabilities (PWDs) by offering them job opportunities, equipping them with essential skills, and giving them the chance to live and work independently.
She also holds weekly group counselling sessions for the PWDs she employs.
"Do not underestimate your children. They will always surprise you, no matter how old they are," she said.
Here's where you can find YL's Gelateria:
Address:
35, Jalan SS 21/60,
Damansara Utama,
47400, Petaling Jaya
Opening hours:
12pm to 7pm (weekdays)
12pm to 9pm (weekends)
Closed on Wednesdays
