I've been studying the tour books, learning the language, picking up on art and the history. My bag is packed. And last night I caught Rick's 'tips and tricks' show. As he so enthusiastically enticed the audience to indulge a bit the thought came up, "where are the good places for chocolate? Or gelato (I see another post on this), cannoli, or other desserts not to be missed?"
Looking for tips in Sicily (doing the RS tour), Sorrento, Naples and Rome.
There's great gelato all over Italy. Sicily is known for granita (non-dairy ices). There's a fabulous combo I encountered in Noto and at a little granita truck in Catania (maybe outside the train station). It's mostly almond granita with a dab of very intensely flavored coffee granita on top. The coffee stuff is so strong that I can't imagine anyone eating it by itself.
At least in that part of Sicily, people sometimes have brioche + granita for breakfast. Seems a fine idea to me.
I had either lemon or orange granita in Siracusa, bought from a street kiosk. It was refreshing, but I think the stuff from a gelato shop would be better.
Avoid any place where you see bottles of colored syrup that they're just going to pour over plain shaved ice.
Sicily has lots of great-looking pastry shops. I tried things from quite a few of them and was never disappointed. My trick is to avoid places where everything looks like it's full of artificial coloring. (That may be rare in Italy, but it's an important rule in some other countries, including the US.) I think Rick may have written something in one of his books about the locals not being that big on desserts. Sorry; I'm not buying that. When you see a large pasticceria with dozens of choices in an area of Catania nowhere near the train station or the Duomo, they're not hoping to make a living off of tourists' purchases.
Cannoli that are freshly filled should be reliably good. I like marzipan, and that figures in a good number of things you'll see in Sicily (where almonds are grown). The marzipan is often tinted pastel green and may be an outer wrapping--usually pretty visible. I generally just go by looks, though I like coffee-flavored things and sometimes ask about that, since it's not always obvious.
There's a traditional chocolate shop in Modica, mentioned in guidebooks; don't know whether the tour stops in Modica and I'm too lazy to look. It was interesting to see the historic shop and the chocolate was fine. but I thought not exceptional.
This is making me very hungry, so I think I'd better stop here before I hit the vending machine downstairs for an inferior American candy bar.
RC, while you are on the Sicily tour, the tour leader will happily point you to good gelato places, although, come to think of it, you can tell yourself from the crowds. You will get to make cannoli and other goodies at one of your stops.
Every trip to Italy must include gelato every single day!
Palermo: Gelateria La Kala- near the port away from the tourist
path.
Trapani: Gelateria Ciuri Ciuri -- (gelateria& pastry shop) near the Liberty ferry port on the waterfront (Via Ammiraglio 71, Trapani)
Agrigento: Gelateria Le Cuspidi’ -- on Piazza Cavour, 19.
Syracuse (Ortigia): Gelateria Gusto - on Piazza Minerva by the Duomo (Via Roma, 39, 96100 Siracusa)
In Ortigia I'd recommend my favorite restaurant: Sicilia in Tavola where I enjoyed the best Caponata alla Siciliana, the Spaghettoni alla Norma, and the most scumptious tiramisu made with pistachio cream!
It's a small place so make sure to make advance reservations, or show up for lunch like I did- twice.
Please note: This restaurant is closed on Mondays.
Enjoy your trip!
I almost forgot! In Rome you must go to Gelateria Fassi - away from the tourist path.
Trapani Gelateria Liparoti.
Scroll down here:
https://slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com/2019/02/west-coast-sicily-days-6-favignana.html
Best ice-cream I've ever eaten (and I live in Italy)!
My two favorite places for gelato in Rome:
San Crispino not only has restaurant-grade gelato, but also sorbet. They specialize is more subtle flavors, do not brighten up the color with food coloring, but let the ingredients stand on their own. We returned again and again on our time there.
-- near the Pantheon
Piazza della Maddalena 3
00186 Rome
Flor makes its gelato so creamy, with true flavors. Satisfying!
-- USED to be near the Campo de' Fiori Market, now in the Monti neighborhood, one of Rick's newer discoveries
Via Cavour 337
NOT Giolitti-- so frequented by tourists, but so disappointing. Avoid.
Chocolate:
Is it where are the good places, or what type or brand? Caffarel is my favorite. It also depends on what time of year you are going-- Easter has the most amazing amount of chocolate-- not just Easter bunnies and eggs. Italy is a chocolate laden country!
A popular chain gelato shop in Rome is Blue Ice. I know of ones by Trevi Fountain and Campo di Fiore. You’ll have no trouble finding a good pastry shop in Italy.
I agree with Priscilla, every trip to Italy should include gelato every single day, and, no need to limit yourself to just once in a day.
Frigidarium in Rome- absolute best!!
Another vote for Frigidarium. It’s near Piazza Navona. I will say that Giolatti is worth seeing if you’re in the areas. And their gelato is OK.
The profumi di sicilia gelato at Old Bridge Gelateria is absolutely amazing....near the Vatican and in Trastevere.
