Take a wild guess… what type of store/shop is at the corner of almost every street in Florence, Italy?
1) Artisan Cured Meats Shops?
2) Pizzeria?
3) 7/11?
3) Gelaterie?
Here is a little hint… The third Firenze Gelato Festival edition was held in May from 23 to 27, 2012 during my visit to Florence. I could not have planned our visit better. In addition, when I stumbled upon the festival there was a tour group with a very informed guide talking about everything you would want to know about Gelato from the history, ingredients, and methods of preparation. Please come along and join me in the tour of the Firenze Gelato Festival…
Before visiting Italy I had tasted gelato before, but had no idea why it tasted different from ice cream and why it was so expensive.
The guide mentioned the ice cream usually has about 10 percent fat. While, gelato is made with a greater proportion of whole milk instead of cream. Therefore, gelato only contains something like five to seven percent fat. The guide had mentioned because there is not as much fat in gelato compared to ice cream, it does not coat your mouth in cream, so the flavors are more intense and flavorful.
Another comparison of ice cream and gelato is that gelato is churned at a slower speed than ice cream or even by hand, so it’s denser because not as much air is whipped into the mixture. He had mentioned that Gelato contains about 25 to 30 percent air, while ice cream can contain as much as 50 percent whipped air.
Lastly, ice cream is typically served very frozen. However, gelato is typically stored and served at a slightly warmer temperature, so it’s not quite completely frozen. He had mentioned this also intensifies the taste as your tongue is not frozen so you can experience all the flavors. I guess that makes sense, but test this theory I really need to taste some myself.
I do not do well in tour groups as I like to experience things on my own terms at my own speed and now my attention span is fading. I a looking at all of this yummy gelato surrounding me and he is still rambling on. However, I fought me response to flee and hung on just to hear 2 more important messages. As a matter of fact, I am starting to get a little distracted and starting to check out all the beautiful statues of the museums and churches around me.
The guide briefly discussed the history of gelato. In 1536 Bernardo Buontalenti was born in Florence and he was also in charge of the organization of the court parties for the Medici family. He was appointed to supervise a fancy inaugural banquet at “Fortezza del Belvedere”. In 1559 Buontalenti created a frozen cream made with milk, honey, egg yolk, just a sprinkle of wine, and flavoured with bergamot, lemon and orange. Of course, it was a hit and gelato started to get exported to France and other places in the world.
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I love, love, love the gelato in Italy! I’m so jealous that you get to see a festival, I wish I’m there right now!
You are very small next time you can come along in my carry on. Take Care, BAM
I don’t usually go a day without gelato when in Italy! Lime is calce in Italian
Thanks so that flavor must be lemon. I will have to go back one day and give that flavor a try.
That is one of the Big Ones on my bucket list…Enjoying the art and history of Italy, while eating all the gelato I can….
Love your photos!
I think it is a great one to have on your wish list. Just bring your stretch pants and you are good to go!
I cannot weven begin to describe how jealous I am of you my friend – gelato is my life
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
What is your favorite flavor? I am just going to go out on a limb and guess Chocolate gelato. Am I right?
That is my kind of festival!
They even had a training area and it was called the Gelato Academia where they were teaching people how to make gelato from scratch. I would have loved to have gone but the que was from here to France in length so I opted just to watch them from the window.
Now that’s a festival I can fully and whole-heartedly support! Lucky that you were there for it, too. I doubt that you would have found some of the more exotic flavors — rosemary raspberry sorbet and fig mascarpone carmel swirl, for example — unless you got lucky and came across the shoppe offering them. It looks like Lady Luck … er … Signora Fortuna was on your side.
A great post, BAM, informative and with some beautiful shots. Makes me want to go back there even more.
Signora Fortuna! Indeed! I could not have planned the timing of this trip better. I guess this festival started about 3 years ago and every year it gets bigger and better. There were so many unique flavors there but by the time I got to the end I was having a sugar crash and could not try one more bite. However, that just gives us an excuse to go back next year. What is your favorite flavor?
Gimme my chocolate! (I’m so pedestrian, I know!) Once I’ve had that a few days in a row, I’ll ask for “fragola”, strawberry. (Again, pedestrian!) Now, just so you think I’m not nuts, after a couple fragole, and another chocolate, of course, then I go crazy. I don’t recall seeing any of the savory types you mentioned but peach, banana, & hazelnut are all very good. By this time I’m departing Italy, wishing I’d brought my “holiday eatin’ pants” to wear on the plane ride home.
See I would just need the elastic pants so I could eat my weight in gelato – ha! Have a Wonderful Weekend – thanks for sharing!
There is a gelateria on every corner! You had best bring your stretch pants when you come. It was so much fun!
That sounds like absolutely HEAVEN. When I went to Italy, I was only about 10 years old and not at all into food or cooking yet, but one of my favorite aspects was trying all of the different gelato flavors. It was an entirely new concept to me, since I had only eaten ice cream before, and I couldn’t get enough! I can only imagine what it would have been like to find a whole festival for the frozen stuff at that time.
When I was at the Firenze Gelato Festival, I felt like I was 10 all over again. Giddy with pleasure as looking over the endless flavors of bliss with so too many decisions to make.
I think you should consider leading a tour through Italy, particularly during a gelato festival.
Keep writing…
My dear Kathleen, thank you for your kind words. However, it was this little local guide that was full of Italian history and knowledge that deserves all the credit.
Wow!!! and I agree with Kathleen!
This post is right up your alley. All things sweet and delicious. You would have loved the gelato festival.
Did I tell you how jealous I am? Even if I did, I think I didn’t stress it enough!
You have mentioned that maybe once or twice before, but reminders are always nice. I hope each day you are feeling a little bit better. Take care, BAM
Your trip just keeps getting better and better in my mind…wow! I would’ve been in pure heaven! (And probably thoroughly distracted like you, too!)
It’s hard to stay focused on the task at hand when you are surrounded by such beautiful architecture and sculptures and scenery in Italy and pumped up on sugar from the gelato. After all, I did not want to miss any kodak moments!
One of my favorite parts of visiting Italy was trying different gelato flavors every day. It’s way better than ice cream! Thanks for the history and differences! I just ate it, and never really bothered to ask questions
And I love your distractions! They make for beautiful pictures! hehe
After all that QA testing, do you have a favorite gelato?
That first picture – how badly do I want to lick the screen!! I visited Venice several years ago and ate gelato every single day – how can you not when in Italy?!
I agree there is something romantic and pure about eating gelato on the cobbled streets of Italy. It is one of the only places they make it by hand with only fresh ingredients and that is why it tastes so wonderful.
Damn, I would not do well in a place like this – I think I’d be hanging out every second of the day outside these places stuffing my face, lol
You got me curious about gelato now – I never had it before… I wonder what it’s like!
Charles, you have not truly lived until you try gelato. My personal opinion is that the texture is super smooth and creamy compared to ice cream and very flavorful. I also think gelato is sweeter and richer compared to ice-cream and very addictive. However, don’t take my word for it. Give it a try. Maybe you can even try to make some in the Five Euro kitchen… Take care, BAM
Thanks Bam – you’ve really piqued my interest… I’m going to try it soon, thanks!
Wonderful, absolutly. I remember this from when i lived in Rome. Now i am hoping you were able to bribe the recipe out of one of those freshly made guys! c
“When your in Rome, do as the….” How lovely that you lived in Rome. How long? I am sure you must miss this.
Now that is one thing that I could not bribe from them is their family recipe but they were very kind and insisted that I try little spoons of all their flavors.
Oh BAM that’s a hard job! I remember being in Sicily in a town when they had their gelato festival – a wonderous sight, but with being lactose intolerant I limit myself to an ice cream a year. What a place to select from. And thanks for the history – I rather like the sound of the bergamot one! Happy days
Did you know there are many gluten intolerant and lactose intolerant people living in Italy? At the gelato festival they had even several selections of dairy free and lactose free frozen treats mainly these were their sorbetto’s and they were labeled as lactose free in the booths. My favorite lactose free sorbetto was the raspberry as it had such a vibrant and free flavor.
Heavenly!:)
Thanks for stopping by!
Wow look at all of those gelato, I think i will have a hard time choosing a flavour
Thanks Raymond. You are a Jack of all traits. Cooking and IT guru! Looking forward to keeping in touch. BAM
Hi Bam, I’m so jealous. I never knew there was a gelato festival in Florence. I fell in love with the place when I visited. Think I’ll pencil in a holiday next year.
Dave
Great post! I can say Italian neighbors (in Croatia) have some really, really good gelato, which I had few years ago in a Croatian coastal city (Zadar). My favorite: Hazelnut and Straciatella!
Love gelato!
When I was in Italy, I ate Gelato 3 times a day, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner – great post!!
I found it very easy to get distracted in Florence…by a lot of things.
I want to be there! So much to see. And eat! My wife would be in heaven with the gelato – one of her favs. I’m enjoying your pictures. Really like the pic of the statue – very funny!
They should have an International Gelato festival!
all around the world for one week! Gelato rocks! 
Thanks for letting me camp out in your blog for a little while today. I had a great time and tried to leave my campsite as good as when I arrived. I’ll be back!
Thanks for stopping by. You left a nice and tidy trail. Please come back and visit any time. Looking forward to reading more of your posts. Take care, BAM