Sirena Gelato has opened just in time for summer.
The gelato shop, tucked away on Park Lane in Kirkland, offers more than 15 different, unique flavors of authentically prepared gelato. The shop is inviting and mimics the upbeat and family-oriented vibe of downtown Kirkland, with outdoor and indoor seating.
Owners Fahri and Robin Ugurlu opened the first Sirena Gelato in the district of Fairhaven in Bellingham after their son, Brian, studied abroad in Italy and tried gelato for the first time.
He called his parents and said that “we have to put together some gelato concept. It’s on every corner in Italy.”
Brian was trained by a third-generation Italian gelato artisan from Venice named Leonardo Mazzero.
“He taught me how to make gelato in a family-recipe style when it was time for us to open,” said Brian, store manager.
He used to make the gelato in Bellingham, but now, with their new location, the family has trained another employee to make authentic gelato.
“He’s a pro,” said Brian’s father, Fahri.
Brian majored in history at the University of Washington, graduating in 2005. He said the name of the gelato shop reflects his college education.
“‘Sirena’ means, in many languages, mermaid,” Brian said. “I think it’s a double meaning. If I’m not mistaken, I think Sirena was the goddess who called sailors to come to her.”
The name will hopefully entice customers to stop by at Sirena Gelato.
“We get tons of kids, but a lot of kids can’t relate to the traditional Italian gelato flavors,” Brian said. Most of the flavors in both Kirkland and Bellingham shops are what you might find in Italy.
“I’m trying to create untraditional flavors and bring some American flavors into the shop, like oreo or bubblegum. We also have a flavor called pan dulce, which is a cake batter flavor,” Brian said.
Sometimes the shop will feature unique creations, such as a lavender flavor. With choices between hazelnut, Thai coconut and mango, to name a few, picking one flavor can be difficult.
To ease this burden, the shop offers three different sizes. If you really can’t make up your mind, the large size will allow you to sample four different, creamy and refreshing flavors.
The Bellingham location offers catering for weddings and other events, and the family hopes to offer the same for their Kirkland location. “In the future, for sure, we will offer wholesale to restaurants between here and Whatcom County,” Brian said. “And maybe in the future we’ll have catering.”
The Ugurlus are pleased with their Kirkland location and expect the shop to be as successful as their Bellingham location.
“We just love Kirkland. It’s such a great place,” said Robin Ugurlu, Brian’s mother.
Brian said the Kirkland location reminds him of their other shop. “There’s a lot of foot traffic, it’s cute. There are a lot of unique shops. It has the same blueprint as Fairhaven,” he said.
Sirena Gelato is located at 109 Park Lane in Kirkland.
Katie Melton is a student in the UW Department of Communication News Lab.
