I ♥ Gelato – review

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Madilynn Arama

Ice cream is one of the most versatile desserts that America has to offer. It is a bowl of comfort when you are sad and a cone of joy when you are happy. It comes in many different forms and even more, flavors to count. Have you seen that macaroni and cheese ice cream? Or a dill pickle flavor one? It sounds strange but given the chance, I’m pretty sure a lot of us would try it. Ice cream is a symbol of America where we celebrate our differences. But as versatile as ice cream may be, have you heard about their less-known Italian cousin? Its name is gelato. Sounds sophisticated, but what is it exactly?

Gelato is a word for ice cream in Italian. In English, however, it is a frozen dessert that has an Italian background. Both gelato and ice cream contain sugar, milk, and cream, but there are key differences that make the two cold desserts different. Authentic gelato uses more milk and less cream and typically does not contain egg yolks. Added bonus would be compared to ice cream, gelato contains less sugar and fewer calories. Win-win.

So ,I took the time to try this cousin of our beloved U.S. dessert. I did not have super high expectations since when you think of fewer calories and less sugar you think of a salad… rabbit food. Not what you would want your dessert to be! But seeing how popular this dessert is in Europe, there has to be something to it. I walked in, not expecting anything great, but that changed in an instant. This place was the cutest little shop, it was so colorful and vibrant, it had a very happy, Instagramable vibe. There are these big statues placed around the store and a wall with painted wings, which make for great photo opportunities. There are stars and clouds hung up against the walls. If you were in a bad mood and walked into this place, it would be hard to stay like that. To go with that cheerful atmosphere,  a variety of flavored, colorful cones sat on top of the gelato counter that immediately caught my attention. There was an assortment of gelatos and many different toppings to mix and match. Oh, the choices like a kid in a candy store! The counter had toppings you would find in a typical ice cream store. However, the super of the show would be the gelatos that range from your typical vanilla to more adventurous flavors such as Sicilian blood orange and spumoni.

I ordered the Geisha, which comes with one scoop of ube gelato and one scoop of green tea flavored gelato with cheesecake bites in between topped with almond flakes, whipped cream, and a giant marshmallow. The ube ice cream was very vanilla-y and had a slightly nutty flavor and the green tea ice cream had powerful matcha and vanilla flavor and both were smooth and not overly sweet. For gelatos being the ‘healthier’ cousin to ice cream, I felt that the taste was very rich and wasn’t sacrificing in flavor. The cheesecake bites were good and had a welcoming texture in between the two gelatos that was like a barrier. The downside was the marshmallow and almond, although tasted okay, didn’t feel like it added much value and was almost an afterthought. Plus, to be super nitpicky, who only eats one marshmallow? Either add more or leave it off. 

All in all, this place exceeded my expectations, and I would definitely recommend this place if you are looking for an adorable, place that is different than your typical chain-type sweet spot. Don’t be shy about asking for samples to find your perfect cup. And don’t forget your phone!