I BELLOW, you BELLOW, we all BELLOW for GELATO! Howard Johnson, you may have thought it catchier to sing ‘I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice-cream!’ But you chose the wrong dessert, man! Ice cream, gelato; same thing? Think again. Or better yet, get yourself to an Italian gelateria and let the proof of the pudding be in the licking!
The history of gelato is long, one that travels down a tangled path of fact and fiction. It certainly flourished in the 16th century in Florence, where sugar and cream were first added to pudding under the creative hands of Florentine architect Bernardo Buontalenti. But, millennia prior to this, the ancient Chinese, Egyptian, and Greek civilizations are known to have prepared frozen confectioneries and beverages consisting of fresh fruit and crushed ice. Alexander the Great stocked snow to refresh his armies. In Egypt, silver cups, presumed to have held a mixture of fruit and ice, were buried with sweet-toothed mummies.
Yet any gelato scholar will attest that the first recipe, similar to that of today, can be credited to Plinio il Vecchio of the 1st century AD Ancient Rome. Yes, not only did he change the course of natural history for centuries to come, but also, thanks to his precise instructions on achieving the perfect consistency by blending honey and juices with snow, he inspired the taste buds of generations of gelato-lovers from thereon. The ruling Emperor at the time, the notoriously bloodthirsty Nero, was evidently as power-hungry as he was gluttonous. So fond was he of this frozen concoction that he had his slaves running for dear life to fetch him snow off the surrounding mountains.
But moving away from greedy emperors and their love for snow, we would like to bring you back to present-day Rome where, with great fortune, gelato has vastly improved from its archaic form. Once a dessert exclusively for the elite, today it’s Italy’s supreme sugary star, with the cobbled streets of Rome crawling with gelaterie continuing to reinvent the concoction. Here are our 10 favorite spots:
Ciampini – Situated in the idyllic Piazza San Lorenzo and founded by a family of gelato-makers that date back to 1941, this gelateria, bar, and restaurant is as Italian as it gets. Grab a cone to-go or take a seat and spoon the stuff in true dolce vita style while watching the world go by. With topnotch ingredients, including organic milk and eggs, there’s no compromise when it comes to quality. We recommend classic flavors like pistachio or fun twists like raspberry with nutella.
Otaleg – Yet to celebrate its 10th birthday, this gelato joint, stationed in the hip Trastevere neighborhood, is already a firm favorite amongst gelato connoisseurs worldwide, with the prestigious food critics from Gambero Rosso rating it top of their go-to geletarie. Although Otaleg takes the classics to another level (their phenomenal pistachio is a blend of three different varieties of the nut!), if you venture in, you either go hard or go home. Flavors such as white chocolate with mustard, eggnog with Marsala, or Firecracker’s Sauce (spicy tomato) are as mad as they are moreish.
P.S. To figure out the reasoning behind the intriguing name, turn your screens heads up, flip the letters over, and problem solved!
Gelateria del Teatro – Once afoot an old theater house, this gelateria, located on the picturesque Via dei Coronari, keeps true to its name in boasting an array of wonderfully dramatic concoctions, particularly pungent for their usage of herbs. While they have perfected the traditional flavors (their crema, coffee, and chocolate are each to die for), go for some of the more inventive for an added aromatic punch, like white chocolate with basil or lavender white peach.
Il Gelato di San Crispino – Although its mention in Eat, Pray, Love has rightfully brought the international crowds rolling in, this gelateria has been a hotspot for hungry Romans since its opening in 1993. With a location next door to the Trevi Fountain, you’ll enjoy your cone with a view! Everything served at San Crispino is of the highest quality, but one flavor keeps us coming back for more… caramel meringue!
Gelateria FataMorgana – Gluten, lactose, nut free? Fear not, for this gelateria caters to all and does not fall short in taste. With a few locations in town (and some abroad!), your next gelato fix is never a trek too far. The panacea (almond milk, mint, and ginseng) and pineapple ginger are two flavors not to miss.
Grezzo – Another hotspot for the Roman vegans, this wonder of a gelateria/chocolate shop (in the neighborhoods of Monti and the Jewish Ghetto) will have anyone licking their lips for more. 100% raw, 100% plant-based, and 100% scrumdiddlyumptious; Grezzo’s gelato combines organic cashews, cocoa butter, and coconut sugar to a creamy perfection. The raw chocolate and hazelnut flavor is sublime, and, for the hardcore chocoholics, we recommend grabbing one of their truffles on the side.
La Casa del Cremolata – Spearheaded by gelato-aficionado Mario Deangelis, this 50-year-old institution in the Trieste district is best for its fruit cremolati–a soft concoction that’s the lovechild of gelato and granita, made by blending fruit and freezing it. Every month they change their flavors depending on the fruits that are in season.
Bar Gelateria “Alberto Pica” dal 1971 – This elegant gelateria is one where we’d certainly rather dine in than take to go, since we can sit on yellow velvet chairs and eat mounds of gelato out of twilled glass cups. Their riso gelato is out of this world, but don’t miss the coconut sorbet, when available.
La Gelateria dell’Angeletto – In Monti, this tiny gelateria might be easy to pass by–but you certainly will not want to. Here, the gelato is creamy and intense, simple and fresh, with flavors that highlight the bounty of the season. Favorites include lemon and ginger, rum dark chocolate, and zabaglione. It’s a great spot for vegan options, too.
Crema Alta Gelateria – One of the members of our IS Team boldly declared this to be the best gelato she’s ever had, so make your way to this charming old-school spot on Via Giulia to see if you agree. Crema Alta Gelateria boasts over 50 flavors of gelato, which are entirely gluten free and follow seasonal ingredients, and their wide variety of vegan options are incredible. Our favorite flavors are zabaione e riso, honey, and cinnamon.
