Quirky insights to science, art, studying abroad, & other miscellaneous happenings.

Quirky insights to science, art, studying abroad, & other miscellaneous happenings.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

What to Do in Florence: The Gelato Guide



Gelato is Italy's regional variant of ice cream. Let me tell you -- it is far from overrated. Its history goes back to frozen desserts in ancient Rome and Egypt (when they brought ice and snow from the mountains to make it). It was served at banquets in the Medici court in Florence, but gelato did not become immediately popular and accessible until the 1920s and 1930s, after the first mobile gelato cart was developed in northern Italy. Containing less butterfat (4-8% compared to 14% in ice cream), gelato also typically has less sugar content as well -- perhaps the argument for being healthier? It's like a soft ice cream that contains significantly less air, so the flavor ends up being denser, tastier, and just plain delightful. :)

Here are some helpful hints when on your search for the real gelato in Italy:

THE RULES

1. Don't go for the obvious.

The beautifully decorated gelateria that's conveniently located next to the Uffizi Gallery or the Duomo? The one called Michelangelo's Gelateria (I'm making the name up) with hoards of tourists and boatloads of brightly colored flavors? Sorry -- but chances are, it's not going to be cheap, or tasty, or healthy, or authentically fresh. Go for the ones that may look like a hole-in-the-wall, or where the bins are covered with tin lids. The less the gelato available, the better, as it indicates that it's probably made fresh everyday. Ask to try a flavor before getting a wad of it in a massive cone: "Posso assaggiare. . . [the flavor]?" is a fairly simple way to ask to try the flavor, and you'll start on the path of becoming a gelato expert.

 Florence is one of the renowned cities in Italy for gelato --  don't settle for less.

2. Cone or cup? (Cono o coppetta)




Hate to break this to my anti-cone audience, but in my experience -- if you want quantity, go for the cone. It's usually almost always in greater amounts for the equivalent cost of the cup. If you want the pure gelato flavor, though, then the cup will give you that unmarred tasting of the classic Italian gelato. Personally, I started off always getting the cup, but I've learned that some flavors taste pretty great (or dare I say -- enhanced?) when combined with the crunchy dryness of a cone. Choose wisely.

3. Try new flavors.

Confirm how many different flavors you can choose, and ask what flavors generally go well together! Try something different each time (despite how tempting it can be to come back for your 'newly deemed favorite') and that way, you'll have an assortment of gelato to form a colorful picture collage upon your return from Italy. In addition, places that use the best ingredients will also use only what is fresh and in season, so take advantage!

Lastly, my recommendations:

1) La Carraia (first gelato picture above and also the one below) is one of my personal favorites. I direct all tourists in Florence to La Carraia. They've got a particular, mysteriously tasty flavor aptly named as the "La Carraia special" -- but it's one of the most popular. I also recommend the biscotti (cookies) but really, you can't go wrong here. The picture at the very top is "melone".

2) Another one is Gelateria della Passera. It's slightly more difficult to find, and I usually refer to it as the "hole-in-the-wall". The consistency is lighter, especially for their fruit flavors, but they are also freshly made every day. I highly, highly recommend the coffee flavor (Starbucks is put to shame). Both these places start at €1 for a massive scoop, and at La Carraia, €1,50 can get you two flavors.

Have I inspired you to go get gelato yet? (To my readers in the United States -- don't fret. You won't be the first I've inspired to make a run to Target for some pseudo-Italian gelato. :)

When done right, eating gelato in Italy will complete your experience here.
Get your gelato, enjoy some great conversation, and appreciate your existence on the planet for a few moments. :)

(yogurt & nutella)

2 comments:

  1. So you're going to buy a cooler and bring some home for me, right? :P YUM!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If I could, I would! I'll definitely be on the search for gelaterias in Ohio upon my return.. ;)

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