Let's Talk GELATO

Gelato is of course the most important food group in Italy. It is absolutely delicious and the perfect way to start or end your day.  Gelato can be at any time of the day. It is the perfect after lunch treat, mid-afternoon snack, and it makes a great dessert. Enough gelato can even qualify as a meal itself. There are plenty of gelato shops in Rome, just about an many as there are Starbucks in Seattle. Unfortunately, not all of them are fabulous. There are your typical chain gelato shops like Blue Ice which are great for a late night treat, but only a really late night, possibly after the bar. These shops are everywhere and unsuspecting Americans wander into to them quite frequently. We certainly did on our first few days here in Rome. We couldn't find the good places and we just had to have gelato. So we fell pray to the Blue Ice gelato gods. But alas, we discovered the best gelato in Rome. It is unlike anything you have ever tasted. Melts in your mouth, as perfect consistency and each new flavor is better than the last. This magical gelato shop is called Della Palma and is located just a few blocks from the Pantheon. Now you might ask yourself who Della Palma is my favorite gelato shops out of all the gelato shops in Rome. Well i'll tell you...

Della Palma has over 100 flavors. Yes you read that right, over 100 flavors and each and everyone of them is absolutely out of this world delicious! You can mix and match and never get the same flavor combination twice (but really I have found my favorites and have stuck to them.) And a cup or cone of two flavors of gelato is only 2 Euros! What a deal! I have tried many different flavors, but my favorite so far is crocalle de pistachio (probably isn't spelled right but it is vanilla with chocolate, carmel, pistachio, and some other random ingrediant which in the past has been heath bar, coconut, and marshmallow fluff.) Honey-almond comes in a close second and amarena, frutti de bosco, biscotti, and meringue are close behind. 

You simply can't get enough gelato in Rome. It is way too delicious to have only a few times. It is simply a staple of Italy cuisine, quite like pasta...everyone loves it! Now go out and get some of that American Ice cream because I bet you are salivating after reading this. It will be good, but probably not as good as the gelato from Della Palma!