UYE Lunch Break at Via Gelato

A little late in the review but I’m so excited I was able to make it out and finally get to try this place!
Thanks to: Nat N., Jacob N. and Pua P. for organizing this event!
Because I had to get home, I had lunch and gelato. I was quite pleased that they served sandwiches and soup so I got a half sand/​cup soup combo. Something light but still tasty. I got the turkey and provolone sandwich and the soup was a yummy minestrone.
Of course I had to get an affogato, gelato with espresso. I chose to get cookies and cream gelato for my affogato. Nothing like having dessert first! I was pretty torn about which flavor to choose because there were so many! No wonder Jacob goes here every day of the week! :) hehe. I can’t wait to come back to try something else!
Definitely worth my time to come out to the «other side» and it was a great lunch break with good friends and yummy food! :)

If only a typical «lunch break» could be like the UYE Lunch Break held at Via Gelato.
Quite honestly, I wouldn’t mind spending everyday at lunch with a terrific, happy group of people. I would definitely look forward to lunch (more than I already do) if it was always spent with Unilocalers enjoying the delicious flavors at Via Gelato. Well, surely one can hope.
Though there was a UYE held at Via Gelato in late February, and despite the fact it was mid-​day, it truly was no surprise (at all) that this event was very well attended.
This event had all the qualities of a FUN time:
*Terrific/​enthusiastic organizers*: Nat N., Jacob N. and Pua P.
*A wonderful group of Unilocalers in attendance*.
*Welcoming host/​venue*: Newly/​recently opened (and gaining popularity) brick and mortar location of Via Gelato.
As with every visit I’ve had since their opening, I was hoping to try a new flavor. Today I ordered a small size with half milk tea and half nutella chip. It was my first time trying the milk tea, and NOW I know why its a favorite of Cathy T; it’s tremendously good! Though some chose to have a sandwich along with their dessert, I opted to wait for our CMYE lunch afterwards at Asuka Nabe.
And with every Unilocal event, its always nice to meet someone new: I had the pleasure of meeting fellow Unilocaler Wayne C today. Also, it was great to see Nat N and Lori I, both of whom I had not seen for a few months now. The hour passed quickly as it was spent laughing, smiling, talking story, and catching up with each other. Truly, time flies when you’re having a great time.
BOTTOM LINE: A very enjoyable «lunch break»! Many thanks to Nat N, Jacob N, and Pua P for planning and organizing this UYE.

I always like to eat dessert first and yesterday I did just that! When I saw the ice cream showcase, I got so excited. It was so full with so many flavors. Cookies and Cream and Nutella Chip were calling out to me so I got both! Food always talks to me and sometimes I need to hush them. I’ll be done with my gelato cup and then an affogato and coffee jelly will be calling out to me next.
Parking was a bit tough to find heading to Via Gelato and I had to get a little creative, but I found parking after a short time. It sort of felt like Christmas with the large number of cars there. Every row was full with people circling around for stalls.
I haven’t seen some Unilocalers in forever at this UYE! I was so happy to see everyone because it had been so long. So cool seeing everyone again!

Via Gelato has been a very popular UYE destination (I’m not sure how many there have been, but I have been to two of them, soooo… we should obviously have another one in a couple weeks). I’m definitely not complaining. Who would not want to spend a lunch break eating GELATO, with fun Unilocal peeps?!? It just so happens that Thursdays are basically my day off. :P So, I was super excited that I’d get to spend part of the day with Unilocalers.
I got to meet new Unilocal friends: Arryn I. (yay! someone else who spells their name with a Y), Russel M., Jacob N. and Nat N. Thank you to Pua P., Jacob N. and Nat N. for organizing this UYE! I definitely enjoyed my gelato even though it was before my awesome shabu shabu lunch.
Parking was the most horrendous I’ve ever seen. But I’m glad people made it and were able to enjoy some yummy gelato!

I am always impressed by Unilocalers who come out to events on a weekday, let alone a weekday during the work day! Thankfully we are Unilocalers who have priorities other than work! Our main priority is to have FUN and in my personal opinion, we are right on the money!
Although I only had a bite of Cathy T’s milk tea gelato I was completely impressed by the brand new Via Gelato storefront. It’s such a pretty store and very different from what I thought it would be. I guess when I thought of Melissa’s truck I automatically thought the storefront would be an exact replica in storefront form. Instead Via Gelato is a lovely modern shop with lots of shared table seating for its guests. It makes me think of the Hamptons because it’s so simple, modern and clean. I can see myself planting here one day to do a little work and engulf myself in scoops of gelato and coffee.
I’ll definitely return again very soon for a few scoops and you should join me! All work and no play make Unilocalers very very very sad. So let’s flip that equation with gelato filled days of friends and make it all PLAY!!!

Can you think of a better way to break that daily routine? Here are the choices:
1) fly a kite
2) walk your dog
3) take a nap
4) eat yummy gelato with awesome Yeeps
and the answer is…#3!!!
Who are we kidding? Of course it’s #4!
I just got back from spending a good hour with awesome Yeeps at Via Gelato. Fellow Elite David T. and I arrived early as we were done with running some errands and shopping. And, because parking in the busy Kaimuki district can be challenging during lunch and dinner hours, we lucked out in getting street parking right across the street.
As we arrived I finally met co-​host Nat N. and a pair of Japanese reporters who were doing a write-​up of this place. But after 1130am familiar faces of Jacob N., Maka K., Michael C., Gary N. and Santi T. showed up and the party was on!!! I was able to meet a new face Wayne C.
There were no games, ice-​breakers or trivia at this event. It was laid back — — stand in line to first sample the yummy flavors before deciding what to get. We then grabbed a seat and sat next to your friends and chat away.
When you are stuck in a routine it is great to break that by taking a «Lunch Break» and this event was the solution.
My complaint: I got the regular size and the damn thing disappeared too quickly!!!
I’ll have to come back for more.
Thanks to Nat N., Jacob N. and Pua P. for organizing today’s event!!!