What is Gelato?
Gelato! Italian Ice cream!
What would dining in Italy be, if you didn't stop along the way to enjoy some tasty gelato and enjoy this Italian ice cream sitting outside at the many cafes that serve it? You can't help but notice that in just about every movie made with scenes of Italy in it they almost always have couples enjoying their gelato in beautiful outside cafes or strolling down the sidewalks having this creamy Italian ice cream.
Gelato is more similar to America's soft ice cream rather than the frozen ice cream, only gelato has an amazing amount of varieties of flavors than just the usual vanilla and chocolate soft ice creams.There is no gelatin in gelato which would be an easy misinterpretation for anyone to assume.
Gelato is a dessert that goes back to the ancient times of the Romans.So it has been around a long enough time for the Italians to have gotten it right, as well as provided enough time to invent every possible flavor and combination possible !
Gelato is made into a rainbow of assorted flavors and would put America's 31 flavors to shame. It is made of a wide assortment of flavors, nuts and fruits.There is custard gelati.almond, strawberry, chocolate and cherry gelato. Flavors and ingredients that dazzle and impress each of your taste buds!
Affogato, pictured on the right, is a dessert using vanilla flavored gelato and topped with espresso. I love espresso, but it can be a strong drink compared to the American coffee that we normally drink, so, having it with vanilla gelato makes it a wonderful variation for expresso.
I can't wait until this dessert, unique to Italy makes its way to America. Where we can visit the gelato shops, hopefully with all the ambiance of an outside cafe, as in Italy. To be able to cast aside the usual vanilla, chocolate and strawberry in a wafer cone or the once in awhile rocky road or pistachio for the creamy fruits and nuts and bountiful flavors that come in gelato!
No list or cookbook or menu of Italian cuisine would be complete without gelato. Italians love their pasta, wine, and they certainly love their gelato!
