Joyce Ng opens Paradise Gelato in Cheltenham after volcanic eruption
An epiphany of volcanic proportions lead to Joyce Ng finding her true calling. With just $20 to her name she managed to turn her life upside down and follow her dreams.
Inner South
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It took a volcanic eruption and being stranded almost penniless in Indonesia for Joyce Ng to realise what she wanted to do with her life.
The epiphany? She was going to make gelato.
Ms Ng was due to fly home when ash from Mount Rinjani affected more than 650 international and domestic flights in 2015, closing airports on Bali, Lombok and Java.
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She didn’t have much money left on her — 200,000 Rupiah or about $19 AUD — but she tried to get by with what she had.
“I remember taking an Uber to this gelato shop with my book,” Ms Ng said.
“It felt really calm there — it was a nice environment and I decided I wanted to do something like that.”
When she returned to Australia, Ms Ng quit her job in the film industry and headed to Bologna, Italy, where she enrolled in the Carpigiani Gelato University.
During a one-month intensive course, she perfected her technique, and in October this year, she and her partner opened Paradise Gelato in Cheltenham.
“I love seeing the reaction from the customers’ faces,” she said.
“A lot of the customers live around the area, so we see them three to four times a week.”
Paradise Gelato features sunny, fresh vibes, with sky blue trimmings and crisp white walls.
There are 10 flavours of beautifully presented gelato on offer, with plans to expand the offering in the near future.
Ms Ng works hard at what she does, arriving at 7.30am and finishing about 10pm.
But she said making gelato was her soul food.
“There’s a lot of chemistry behind it,” Ms Ng said.
“The most popular flavour is cookies and cream — we almost always sell out.
“People are starting to discover us and we are moving quickly.”
Paradise Gelato, 247 Charman Rd, Cheltenham.
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