Blue Ice, Ice Baby

[It's Food Week at AHIR: all food, all drink, all week, leading up to World Nutella Day on February 6! I'm giving you the weekend off so you can go and ponder your WND entry. We even got a special shout out from Technorati. We're "where the fire" is at, people! Go and vote to add some fuel to the flames. Then get going and send your entry to nutelladay (AT) nutelladay (DOT) com as soon as it's ready!]


You didn't think I had forgotten the good ol' Gelato Tour, now did you? A gelato a day keeps the doctor away. Or in this case, a Gelato Tour a month. Another great idea thought up by my World Nutella Day Co-Host, the lovely Ms. Adventures in Italy.

I was in the Campo de' Fiori area not too long ago on a wet and rainy day. I passed by the sizzling neon sign of Blue Ice and thought, oh, why not? You see, Blue Ice is a chain, so already that gives it a minus in my book. I'm kind of a food snob like that. But seeing as how I had only tried it once before and didn't even remember if it was good or not, I figured it was time to give it another shot.

Now, regardless of whether the stuff is actually edible, as far as I'm concerned these people get major points for sheer gelato artistry. You might think I'm kidding when I tell you that one or two employees were continually "re-molding" these gelato mountains while I was in the shop. There were like four employees total. I think that Blue Ice actually hires people specifically to do this complicated gelato shaping. It's like Marie Antoinette's hair in her sassy phase, and that requires serious maintenance.


Sometimes I'm not really in the mood for a cone or a cup. I just want a milkshake. Here in Italy if it's not called milkshake (which it is, at least in McDonald's, but of course how would I know, because I make it a point to never eat there), it's known as frappe. So, that's what I settled on, and just listen to this wacky flavor combination I invented: cappuccino and creme caramel. Sounds kind of weird? It was really, really good. You should always try to be a bit of a mad scientist in an Italian gelateria. Why? Well, because you CAN, of course. Why else?

So, Blue Ice actually came out worthy of the Gelato Tour. I had heard lots of people who had visited Rome singing its praises before, and even though it's a *gasp* chain establishment, I have to admit that my milkshake was molto buono. It still isn't my favorite gelato place (maybe that will be for the next installment on the tour), but after this stop on the tour, I wouldn't tell you not to go there. That honor is reserved for any generic gelato shop within 50 feet of Trevi Fountain, in the summer. You'll regret it. Trust me. I'm speaking from personal experience.

Any Blue Ice devotees out there?

Blue Ice
Pretty much everywhere
Try Campo de' Fiori
Or Piazza S. Maria in Trastevere