Everybody loves ice cream, well almost everybody. I do know a handful of people who ‘claim' they don't. Well anyway, when it comes to ice cream, it's generally ‘I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream,' and when it is gelato, the screams for it get louder. So, what's the difference between a gelato and an ice cream, you ask? Nothing much, except perhaps for the fact that a gelato is much creamier, less cloyingly sweet and richer in flavour than an ice cream.
Italian ice cream
Bringing us a taste of this Italian version of an ice cream in a less ‘starish' manner (some of the star hotels in the city offer them) is Duetto. Located at Spectrum Chambers, Kuravankonam, Duetto is a simply yet tastefully done parlour.
Barely a month old, Duetto offers customers 18 varieties of gelatos, with some flavours changing on a daily basis. To ensure you pick the gelato or combination of gelatos that will tickle your taste bud, you can try each and every gelato available behind the counter. My personal favourites are the coffee and chocolate gelatos. While the chocolate gelato is ‘chocolaty,' the coffee gelato has the strong aroma of coffee and the flavours as well. The other varieties of gelatos include white chocolate, yoghurt, lemon, mango, apple, strawberry, tiramisu and banana.
A scoop of gelato costs Rs. 48, while a double scoop costs Rs. 80 and a triple scoop costs Rs. 120. If you like having your favourite scoop with toppings like caramel, kiwi, chocolate or even nuts, you can choose so. While a single scoop with topping (Tiziano) costs Rs. 68, a double scoop (Donatello) costs Rs. 100 and a triple scoop (Giotto) costs Rs. 140.
Those who like sundaes can pick from Coffee on Ice (Rs. 200), Venice on Choco (Rs. 150). The Gianduiotto (Rs. 150), The Fruit Experience (Rs. 150), The Cherry Garden (Rs. 200) and The Caesar Fruit Garden (Rs. 250).
The Coffee on Ice is perfect for lovers of coffee as it has coffee gelato with a strong aromatic Italian coffee decoction drizzled on top. Chocoholics will enjoy both Venice on Choco and The Gianduiotto. While Venice on Chocolate has scoops of white chocolate and chocolate gelato with a chocolate wafer, assorted nuts and hot thick chocolate sauce poured on top, The Gianduiotto has chocolate gelato with assorted nuts and mint leaves. The Fruit Experience, The Cherry Garden and The Caesar Fruit Garden all have fresh fruits as a base.
According to John Benny, managing director of Duetto, the gelatos are made daily using fresh cream, milk and if it's a fruit based gelato, fresh fruits. And there are no preservatives, he adds.
But it is not all gelatos here. Those who would like to lounge with a coffee or a tall glass of fresh juice can do so. There is Cappuccino (Rs. 55), Caffe Latte (Rs. 55) and Italian Expresso (Rs. 45) in the coffee list and as for fresh juice, you can pick from seasonal fruits.
The parlour is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. Contact: 3055012
