Most people misguidedly label gelato as Italian ice cream. But for gelato experts, Gelato is like placing your whole experience of Italy in a scoop or two. It is a flavorful, refreshing, frozen dessert that seemingly teleports you to Rome or Milan without having to purchase plane tickets.
Not enough budget to travel to Italy? That is not a problem. All you have to do is find the perfect gelateria in the United States to help you have that ultimate gelato experience. We’re dishing out the top 5 best gelaterias in the United States to help you meet your cravings in the most budget-friendly way. What else? So read below to taste the best gelato in town.
1. Gorgeous Gelato – Portland, ME
The owners of this gelato shop are Mariagrazia Zanardi and Donato Giovine. They are originally from Milan but they traveled all the way to Portland in 2010 to follow their dream of opening their own gelateria in America. They source out ingredients at local markets but they also purchase directly from Italian manufacturers, importing key ingredients like Pistachios right from Sicily and precious Hazelnuts straight from Piedmont. The power couple is determined to offer high quality gelato at affordable prices so that every Portlander can experience Italy in a scoop.
2. Gelato Paradiso – San Diego, CA
When it comes to making delicious gelato, finding the right equipment and knowing methodology, Italians know best. Therefore, in choosing for the best gelato supplies, John Fisher made sure that the machines they used originated and was designed in Italy to ensure authenticity and high quality. This is a great idea, because why not purcahse all your equipment from where gelato originally came from? The secret as to why this shop remains at the top of the list because it strives to offer authenticity when it comes to their gelato.
3. Gaia Gelato – Carlsbad, CA
Aside from their handmade gelato done daily, the owners, Cristina Amoroso and Paola Richard also make sure that their gelato is made in small batches and has rotating flavors depending on what flavors are fresh on the market. These owners know the best gelato combos and will never fail you when it comes to convincing you why gelato is better than ice cream.
4. IL Dolce Gelato – Norman, OK
You will definitely spot great gelato at this gelateria in Oklahoma. The owners of this gelateria combine local ingredients with high quality elements from around the world. This shop was founded in 2007 by a gelato maker who also got his experience from one of the best gelato makers in Italy. This shop is family-owned, which is why it has preserved the tradition of gelato production, making use of original and premium ingredients which are handpicked both locally and globally. The ingredients nclude pistachios from Sicily, Piemontese hazelnuts, genuine fruits and cow’s milk that are free from GMO’s or harmful hormones.
5. Black Dog Gelato – Chicago, IL
One of the top sellers of this gelato shop is Gourmet Gelato and Sorbet. But aside from these, they also offer traditional flavors like Malted Vanilla, Chocolate, Oreo Mint, Cookies and Cream and Pistachio. What makes this gelateria interesting are some of the unique flavors they serve like Peanut Butter Lavender Marshmallow, Mexican Hot Chocolate, Blueberry French Toast, and Blackberry Cabernet. You have a large variety of both traditional and innovative flavors to choose from. The owner is a former pastry chef, Jessica Oloroso who fuels her passion for gelato by inventing new flavors. Such flavors include Goat Cheese Cashew Caramel Gelato and Whiskey Bacon Bars which has captured the interest of her customers and made them come back for more.
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