Gelato

The teeny town of Albano is absolutely adorable. There is a huge grocery store, a little shopping to be done, and the best gelato I have had thus far.

I forget the name of the gelateria, but it's straight down the street on your right after the bus drops you off. Prices range from 1-5 Euro depending on the size you want--THEY LOAD YOU UP!

The purpose of this post is not to write about Albano, but the entire gelato-thing here in Italy. It is part of the culture, and if you don't like it, stay home.

Gelaterias in Italy are more common that Starbucks in NY. The prices are all pretty much the same, as are the flavors. I am of the opinion that the quality differs, depending on where you go. Some gelato is a little too melty for my taste. This sounds odd, but we have really hard ice cream back home.

Another thing---who came up with BALLS of ice cream? Was that the US? Italy doesn't do it. They use flat scoop like things instead. If anyone knows who invented the ice cream scoop as we Americans know it, do tell.

Anyway, here are some flavors for you (because sometimes, as in the gelateria in Albano, it is not obvious what the flavors are in English) I am not going to even begin to pretent that I did this myself. I found it online


ACE- orange carrot and lemon
After Eight- Creme de Menthe
Albicocca- apricot
Amarena- Cherry
Ananas-pineapple
Arancia- Orange
Bacio-chocolate hazelnut
Banana
Biscotto-biscotti
Caffe- Coffee
Cassata- cream with dried fruit and dark chocolate chunks
Champagne
Cioccolato-chocolate
Cioccolato Biano- White Chocolate
Cioccomenta- Chocolate Mint
Cocco- coconut
Cocomero-watermelon
Cubana- Chocolate Cream with Coffee
Eolie- cherry and nuts
Fichi- fig
Fiore di Fragola- strawberry vanilla
Fior di Latte- cream
Fior di Panna- cream?
Formmagio- cheesecake
Fragola- Strawberry
Frutti di Bosco- Mixed Fruit
Gianduia- chocolate and hazelnut
Kiwi
Lampone-raspberry
Limoncello
Limone- lemon <-------ONE OF MY FAVORITES~!!!!
Lipari- rich pistacchio
Liquirizzia- Liquorice
Malaga- Rum Raisin
Mango
Marron Glace- Chestnut
Mascarpone-cream cheese
Mela Verde- green apple
Melone-cantalope
Mirtillo- blueberry
Mora- blackberry
Nutella- chocolate & hazelnut
Nocciola- hazelnut
Noce- walnut
Pera- pear
Pesca- peach
Pinoli- pine nut?
Pistacchio
Pompela Rosa- pink grapefruit
Riso- rice
Stracciatella-choc chip <-----ONE OF MY FAVORITES
Tiramisu
Torrone- nougat
Vaniglia-vanilla
Visciola-?
Yogurt
Zabaione- Eggs and marsala
Zuppa Inglese- Trifle cherrie and chocolate



To anyone who has ever heard me bitching about how the chocolate chips in mint chocolate chip and chocolate chip ice cream aren't big enough---I HAVE FOUND THEM!!!!
They are REAL chips of chocolate (big ones too!!) and they are delicciousss.....


Here is another cool thing about getting gelato in Italy, it doesn't matter when you get it!
There are several rules in Italy about WHEN you can eat/drink certain things. NEVER order a cappucino after 10am!!! Never eat dinner before 8pm (even though we eat at 7 on campus)!!!! Things like that. GELATO CAN BE EATEN ANY TIME AFTER 11am-ish.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Enjoy!!

Ciao!
Mira