One hot summer day, I was fortunate to sample an assortment of gelatos from a variety of shops: Il Bacio Trattoria in Bronxville, La Tulipe Desserts and Bellizzi in Mount Kisco, Iron Tomato in White Plains, Ossining Pizzeria and Restaurant in Ossining, Sal’s Pizzeria in Mamaroneck, and Longford’s in Port Chester. Although the majority of flavors were delicious, some stood out from the rest.
I tasted hazelnut gelato, or nocciola, from each of the shops. My favorites? Bellizzi’s nocciola took first place. It beat out my second favorite, La Tulipe’s gelato. Both were rich and creamy, reminding me of the gelatos found in Italy.
Next, I compared some fruit gelatos. My favorite? The raspberry gelato from Ossining Pizzeria, which had a smooth texture and great berry flavor. Sal’s raspberry gelato, more like a sorbetto or dairy-free frozen treat, was like eating pure fruit. I also liked Longford’s ultra-rich Blackberry gelato, although I could have done without the seeds from the fruit.
Some popular flavors stood out and deserve mention. La Tulipe’s deliciously nutty pistachio was silky smooth. Ossining Pizzeria’s crème caramel tasted like the dessert. Il Bacio’s namesake gelato flavor, Bacio, was a luxuriously rich, chocolate confection. I couldn’t get enough of Sal’s creamy nutella, and Longford’s espresso is a coffee lover’s dream. Bellizzi had several decadent gelato ‘sundaes’ with the toppings already blended in, like leoleone, a caramel gelato with melted chocolate and caramel sauce.
This summer, when the heat becomes unbearable, you might find me sampling other flavors at La Tulipe Desserts (455 Lexington Ave, Mount Kisco 914-242-4555; latulipedesserts.com), currently my favorite gelato stop. Its super-smooth gelatos are packed with flavor yet delicately balanced without being too sweet. However, if you stop by Bellizzi, Sal’s, Ossining Pizzeria, or Longford’s, none will disappoint and the dog days of summer may lose some of their bite.
// Diane Forley
