Gelatorific!

Nothing is better on a hot day than a cold frozen treat. Lemonade, icees, and ice cream all make yummy additions to any early autumn heat spell! It was unusually hot on Sunday. I had the chance to have another of my favorite frozen confections when I stumbled upon a gelato shop while enjoying an outdoor concert at Smyrna Market Village. If you've never had gelato, let me share with you the virtues and delights that await!

Gelato is a traditionally Italian dessert that is made much like ice cream, but is often lower in fat and calories*. It's lower in fat because it's typically made from milk with less butter fat. Gelato is also sometimes made with fresh fruit and fruit juice added in too, which reduces the ratio of fat. Some flavors include nuts and candies too. Compared to ice cream, gelato has less air incorporated during its process, making for a creamier, richer flavor and denser texture that is noticeably different than ice cream. It melts quicker and has a velvety texture.

Once I had gelato in a tiny gelateria in Rome, Italy; it was the BEST gelato I've ever eaten. Maybe it was the gelato or maybe it was the fact that it was tucked way back on an off-the-beaten-path street where no one spoke English and everyone was beautifully Italian... The gelato shop that I visited this weekend was not this kind of shop. But it was run by several really nice folks and they make some good gelato. It was called Italio's Gelato & Cafe (go figure!). I had chunky monkey -- real bananas, pecans, and chocolate pieces mixed into rich vanilla gelato. It was delicious, not Italy, but delish just the same!

*Caution: Gelato with lots of add-ins may have more calories than straight up traditional American ice cream! Eat (in moderation) at your own risk!