Gelato !

August is half over - in Italy this is the month to take a summer vacation, especially by the sea - and my August writing break is winding down too. So - today’s final “mostly photos” post brings you gelato. Real Italian gelato, lower in fat, more dense, and (IMHO) more flavorful than other types of ice creams, is something I really miss when I am in the US during the summer. It is the classic Italian summer treat.

Authentic artisanal gelato is dense, not fluffy and filled with air. The colors tend to be subdued, very like the natural colors of the fruit. If you see fluffy bright green “stuff” labeled pistachio - run away!

One of my fondest gelato memories is of the summer of 2019 (pre-COVID!) when a group of us in Lucca met each week for a gelato. We must have tried almost all the gelato shops in Lucca - and did formal evaluations of each (flavor, texture, variety of options, etc).

My friend Deb - who organized the gelato tasting evenings - enjoying a typical “3 flavors” gelato cone. Thanks to Deb for sharing this photo.

Was there a consensus on the best ? Absolutely not, though a small group of favorites emerged. The lack of consensus was proof of how many good artisanal gelato shops there are in Lucca!

Fruit flavored, dark chocolate, pistachio - all taste fabulous at one of Lucca’s oldest establishments.

Luckily, I return to Italy next week and there is plenty of time left to enjoy gelato before fall arrives. I’ll be heading to one of the local gelaterie for a small cup of my favorite flavors - coconut, mixed berry, and peach. Until then, I’ll be drooling over these photos.

Some gelato cones are pretty fancy - this one is from Gelateria Amorino in Florence (photo thanks to Anita and Leonard Lujan).

This gelateria - near the church of Santo Stefano - serves some unique flavors. Among them is a creamy gelato made with buffalo milk ! That may sound strange, but trust me on this, it is fantastic !