SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - Along Fifth Avenue, a trendy new café is trying to hammer out a future inside the former iconic confines of San Diego's most famous hardware store.
"We are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner," an employee said.
Cremolose is named after an Italian imported, all natural, no preservatives-added treat that is served over the counter.
"If you want gelato but you can't take the calories, Cremolose is the way," an employee said.
But cool it with the calorie count. Cremolose has one of the most mouthwatering display cases you'll find this side of the Adriatic, including 24 flavors of fruit-laced homemade gelatos. Dessert lovers will think that they've died and gone to pastry paradise.
"We've got some very traditional Italian desserts," an employee said. "We have all kinds of fruit tarts, cream puffs, cookies, canoli… the pistachio canoli is my personal favorite."
You can gain a couple of pounds here just browsing.
These days all the baking is underground, where pastry chefs work their sugar-spun magic. I got to sample some fresh hazelnut gelato. Gone is the rickety old wooden staircase and tin scales that were trademarks of the original store, founded in 1910.
The ghosts of handymen who passed through these portals in search of the Skil saw or the perfectly planed 2x4 wouldn't recognize the place, except for the plaques and the signage. But those who come here for handcrafted desserts will discover that Cremolose has nailed it.
Cremolose
840 5th Avenue, Suite 100
San Diego, CA 92101