THE ‘ICE CREAM’ THAT ALMOST BROKE THE BANK

On holiday in Rome, Jill Jacques has the world’s most expensive gelato

We were at the Spanish Steps in Rome. A prime tourist area admittedly — but it was hot and we were tired. I felt like an ice cream. Besides, Italian ice cream is reputed to be the best in the world and it’s not as though I go to Rome every day. Inside the little shop the man behind the counter held up two cones. Which one did I want?

“I just want an ordinary ice cream,” I stated firmly.

He showed no signs of comprehension and again indicated that I should choose. Now, I have a weakness for sugar cones so that’s the one I chose. And no, I didn’t ask the price.

I selected the coffee-flavoured ice-cream and watched the man put in two scoops. It was when he turned his back to me that I started to feel nervous.

“Just an ordinary ice cream,” I muttered without much conviction.

He finally turned around and handed me a magnificent concoction. It was decorated with coffee beans and a variety of tiny wafers and topped with whipped cream and a cherry.

I decided to wait outside while my husband paid.

He emerged with a face like thunder. “You’d better enjoy every lick,” he said. “That ice cream cost à7. Almost R100, in case you can’t do the maths.”

Suitably chastised, I ate in silence as we started following the signs to Trevi Fountain. After I had crunched a couple of coffee beans (anticipating chocolate replicas) I decided they were a bit hard for my teeth and surreptitiously removed them.

But it was too late.

Running my tongue along my teeth I located a rough patch – one side of my tooth had broken off and the filling was exposed. I resigned myself to chewing pasta and pizza on the left side only.

The dentist back in Johannesburg announced that the tooth could not be re-filled — I would need a crown.

All in all, my Italian ice-cream cost

R3 600. Surely the most expensive ice cream in the world — but it was delicious! ©