The scoop on my ‘gelato crawl’
Enticed by the promise of satisfaction for my sweet tooth, I decided to hit up three gelaterias in Palm Beach Gardens, a feat a colleague dubbed a “gelato crawl.”
For the uninitiated, gelato is an Italian dessert similar to ice cream, but it’s silkier, more flavorful and has less fat. Sounds good, right?
Here are the gelato sellers I visited in the order I visited them. They are unranked, because you really can’t go wrong.
1. Gelato Grotto, 11300 Legacy Place Ave., Suite 100: I have friends who rave about this place, so I took their recommendation when I ordered Nutella gelato with my own choice of espresso. The espresso gelato has bold flavor, but I’ll pick something other than Nutella next time.
The gelato here is handmade fresh every morning with locally sourced ingredients. The portion sizes are generous. I actually worried I wouldn’t be able to finish my Sarah Peters cup before it melted all over the place.
The man who served me took the time to ask me what I thought as I was finishing up at one of the tables outside. A+ for service.
Price: $5.60 for the regular, two flavors in heaping portions.
2. Prosecco Cafe, 4580 PGA Commons: I’ve eaten breakfast, bought coffee and worked from here on several occasions, and each time, I salivate over the gelato behind the front window. I wanted to keep the playing field level with Gelato Grotto, so I ordered the espresso and mint chocolate chip gelato. (They didn’t have Nutella.)
The portion sizes were definitely smaller than Gelato Grotto. Both varieties were strong and delicious. The gelato seemed to be served at a slighter warmer temperature than Gelato Grotto, which I think helped bring out the flavor.
The woman behind the counter was pleasant and promptly served me.
Price: $4.02 for two small scoops.
3. Doris Italian Market & Bakery, 11239 U.S. 1, North Palm Beach: The “coffee” flavor was so delightfully strong it tasted like espresso. The mint chocolate chip paled in comparison, which I suspect was because it was colder and tasted more like ice cream than gelato.
I really wish I had picked the blood orange gelato that I sampled while the woman behind the counter prepared my order. Even a small spoonful offered a burst of flavor.
A shaded, outdoor area with picnic tables and fans surrounded by bocce courts is the perfect place to enjoy cold gelato on a hot day. You’ll be serenaded by Italian music from the speakers, too.
Price: $4.27 for a packed cup. Weirdly, I only saw a medium and large on the menu — no small. The “medium” is the size you’d expect for a small.