Community Corner

During Outage, Old Greenwich's Darlene Finds Good Homes for Gelato, Sorbet

Members of the extremely busy Sound Beach Volunteer Fire Department were among those in Old Greenwich who received the tasty treats.

 

Hurricane Sandy couldn’t touch most of the tasty treats Darlene Totilo features in her Old Greenwich shop, Darlene’s Heavenly Desires.

Gourmet crepes, Belgian chocolates, cotton candy, jelly beans and chocolate-dipped cheesecake on a stick have been staples of the Sound Beach Avenue parlor since Darlene and husband Anthony brought the 17-year-old business to the village five years ago.

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But when Darlene’s—and the rest of Greenwich—lost power following Monday’s violent winds, the Greenwich native and 1972 Greenwich High School graduate had to find something to do with 40 tubs of gelato and assorted Italian sorbet.

“I know if I didn’t find someone to give it to, then it would create more of a mess here,” the Stamford resident told Patch.

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In the end, Darlene found a willing recipient for her stock of sorbets just up the street: The Sound Beach Volunteer Fire Department firefighters. The group ranked among the most taxed emergency

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response agencies in town during a chaotic Monday night, when multiple fire stations needed relocate as Greenwich police faced a storm surge 17.5 feet above average and several residents refused to leave their homes.

A few tubs of gelato remained Tuesday afternoon, and Anthony brought them outside to a table and asked passersby whether they’d like to take the dessert home.

“We would just need to get rid of it anyway, so I’m glad [the firefighters] will get to enjoy it,” Darlene said.


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