Annalisa P.
Yelp
A hot new business indeed! Or should I say cold?! This gelato gem opened just a month ago in The Heights. The owner, Marco Silvestrini, runs the Houston location, while his sister and sister's fiance run the shop in Austin on South 1st. I haven't been to Austin in a while, but I'm grateful that this authentic gelato shop opened up here in Houston, too. The owners are from Italy and actually studied the art of making gelato, so you know it's legit. My friend and I had been wanting to try this spot for a few weeks now, and we were so glad to come in on a late Monday afternoon. There was only one customer before us. Marco was so kind enough to let us try a spoonful of whatever flavours we wanted, explained how they infuse the flavours, and gave suggestions on combinations. To be honest, I wanted all the flavours! These are the ones I tried:
Buttermilk + Strawberry: The buttermilk makes it creamy, and the strawberry bursts flavour that tastes like it was fresh picked from Froberg's Farm or something similar.
Goat Cheese Pecan: If you like goat cheese and nuts (like me. lol.), you'll love this combination. I've had goat cheese vanilla ice cream before in a dessert I tried in Philly a few months ago, but I couldn't taste the goat cheese. This gelato, however, won't disappoint. You can taste the goat cheese just enough to where it doesn't overpower, and there are chunks of pecans in it.
Mascarpone with Coffee Infusion: I was expecting to taste a bit of tartness from the mascarpone, but it tasted more like coffee. Still good, though.
Dolce Neve (Custard with Lemon Zest): If you're into citrus desserts like key lime, you'll love the lemon zest flavour. It's light and refreshing.
Organic Pistachio: I love pistachio. It's always my go-to. There aren't any pistachio pieces in this, but the pistachio is very nutty. Haha. It would be even better with pistachio pieces.
I decided on the Buttermilk + Strawberry and Goat Cheese Pecan combo that Marco suggested. It does pair nicely together. My friend also tried the Matcha Green Tea, and she liked it. So, you can't go wrong with any of the flavours. If you're looking for something dairy-free, they also have at least one sorbet. Marco said the flavours change every now and then, so I will definitely be back to try more...maybe even a gelato sandwich or gelato stick.
P.S. Marco says the weekends are busy, so if you don't want to wait in line or hate crowds, come in on a weekday and hit them up for a sweet treat during your lunch break.