THE BEST TIME FOR GELATO!

Are you familiar with David Lebovitz's BLOG? There's a permanent link over in the right hand column, but of course if you're really smart you'll just add it to your BLOGLINES NOTIFIER, or to Google reader, a similar service. Anyway, today David is blogging about GELATO, and it's a yummy, refreshing read, especially now that summer has decided to arrive in full force.

I always feel wrong when I tell people that gelato is the Italian equivalent of ice cream because it sooo much more than that! The richness and intensity of the flavor is one thing that sets gelato apart from any ice cream I've ever had, but Davids's article explains about the variations of gelato-making within Italy. Of course I should have expected that each region would have it's own unique variations, but I'd never thought about it before.

In addition to being a great chef and a devoted chocoholic, David's latest venture is a book dedicated to gelato and ice cream, THE PERFECT SCOOP. What a job...testing/tasting ice cream and gelato from all over the world, experimenting with countless recipes till you find the perfect ones, then getting to write about it, blog about it, even travel the world to talk about it! I wonder if David needs an assistant???

Although interest in gelato seems to be high right now due to the intense heat, in my opinion, ANY time is a good time for gelato....and I'm always disappointed that so many bars stop selling it in the winter! They don't stop selling hot coffee in the summer, so why should cold weather keep you from enjoying gelato!

David's blog mentions some places in the U.S. where you can get gelato, or of course you could always schedule a visit to Italy. Either way, if you ever have a chance to experience REAL gelato, take it!!