A cup of gelato or a waffle cone full of smooth ice cream cools the soul on a hot summer’s day—not to mention the potential for a brain freeze. Now that we’re in the thick of the season, we’re looking for the sweetest spots in the Greater Philadelphia Area that scoops up the best icy treats—and we sure found a lot. Whether you’re craving the dessert straight from Italy or fresh off the farm, below are some spots worth visiting before things cool down—or in this case, melts.
Capogiro Gelato Artisans,
Philadelphia With four locations in the city to choose from and 385 flavors that rotate daily, there’s no excuse not to sample this creamy, sinful gelato. The extensive menu is filled with enticing options, from Cioccolate (chocolate), Thai Coconut Milk—coconut gelato made with coconut milk from Thailand and a surprising taste of coconut rum—to Arancia con Cardamom, a sweet orange gelato with spicy cardamom. CapogiroGelato.com
Chubby’s Dairy Barn,
Pipersville Nestled behind the history-rich Plumsteadville Inn, Chubby’s Dairy Barn remains a favorite among Bucks County families—and for good reason. Aside from their delectable assortment of handcrafted ice cream flavors from Nelson’s Ice Cream in Montgomery County, families can also indulge in live entertainment or kid-friendly games, all in the hospitality of a rustic barnlike setting. (215) 766-0777
Gemelli,
West Chester You’ve had your fair share of gelato, but how about a gelato cake? Using their artisanal gelato—which is made fresh daily from scratch using only local, organic farm-fresh and seasonal ingredients—Gemelli offers options ranging from Tiramisu, strawberries and cream, a chocolate and sea salt caramel with handmade chocolate glaze to custommade cakes. Thanks to owner and Gelato Maestro, Vincenzo Tettamanti, ice cream cakes will never be the same. GemelliGelato.com
Goodnoe Farm Dairy Bar,
Newtown There’s more to ice cream than just a cup and a cone. For Goodnoe’s, they use their own wholesome family recipes to whip up classic, creamy ice cream that can be handdipped, enjoyed as a milkshake or served as a delectable sundae. From toppings as colorful as the rainbow, including strawberries, hot butterscotch, crushed pineapples, hot fudge, fresh whipped cream and sweet walnuts, there’s always a sweet ending here. Goodnoe.com
Gran Caffé L’Aquila,
Philadelphia Can’t plan a spontaneous getaway to Italy any time soon? Then consider planning a spur of the moment trip to what Philadelphians arguably consider the next best thing to Italy itself. This authentic Italian eatery boasts ever-changing gelato flavors handcrafted by the Gelato Champion Stefano Biasini himself, including Crème Caramel, Tiramisu, Zabaglione, Fondente and Nutella. Mangia! GranCaffeLAquila.com
Nina’s Waffles,
DOYLESTOWN, NEW HOPE, PEDDLERS VILLAGE AND SERGEANTSVILLE, N.J. The smell of waffles first drew us into this family-owned ice cream shop founded by Belgian Louis Zanias and we didn’t regret it. Using unique ingredients like yeasted bread dough— similar to brioche—pearl sugar and sugar beets to create one-of-a-kind waffles, you can choose from over 100 ice cream flavors to scoop on top, making it the perfect summer treat. NinasWaffles.com
OWowCow Creamery,
OTTSVILLE, WRIGHTSTOWN AND LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. Although a hefty scoop of ice cream isn’t exactly labeled as health conscious, those in favor of locally sourced and organic ingredients can have their (ice cream) and eat it too at OWowCow Creamery. Besides an assortment of tasty flavors including “I Hate Chocolate,” “Indonesian Vanilla” and “Rosewater Cardamom,” patrons can leave satisfied both in their choice of flavor and in their support of local farmers. OWowCow.com
Scooped Handmade Ice Cream,
CHESTER SPRINGS AND MEDIA Owner John Reece is a self-taught ice cream maker who churns out mouth-watering creations like Banana Brownie, Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt and Cookie Monster—a combination of cookies and cream and cookie dough ice cream with chunks of cookie dough and Oreo in every bite. Enjoy a scoop or two in a homemade waffle cone and let your taste buds rejoice. (484) 358-7099 and (484) 467-2904
Tanner Brothers Dairy Farm,
IVYLAND If you’re looking for fresh, homemade ice cream, go no further than the corner of Almshouse and Hatboro Roads. There, you’ll find the longstanding Tanner Brothers Dairy Farm, which has been in operation for over 100 years, doling out freshly-made milk—and their famous chocolate milk—and, of course, sweet ice cream in flavors from peanut butter brownie, strawberry to blueberry pie. TannerBrothersDairy.com
Toto’s Gelateria & Caffé,
AMBLER Get your fill of homemade gelato and a shot of espresso at this gelateria, where classic flavors include hazelnut and limoncello, while adventurous ones include PB&J. While you load up on one or two flavors of gelato, may we suggest ordering an affogato: a cup of your choice of gelato with espresso poured right on top. It doesn’t get more Italian than that. (215) 628-3980
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life Magazine, August, 2017.
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