Fiorello's - Toni Spumoni Gelato - April 19, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Fiorello's Artisan Gelato
Tony Spumoni gelato
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1/2 cup (130 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) container
Calories: 320 calories in 1/2 cup serving
Cost: $7.99 for 1 Pint container
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Pistachio Theme Week.

This pint container of "Tony Spumoni" gelato contained a melange of chocolate, almond and pistachio gelato(s) from Fiorello's Artisan Gelato (San Rafael, CA). A pistachio butter (with ground pistachios and almonds) provided a rich, sweet, nutty flavor to the combined flavor mixture.

I sprinkled my little dish of gelato with some green, shelled, lightly salted pistachio nuts and a spritz of rosewater, and I had one heckavu Tony Spumoni sundae.

Fiorello's - Coconut Almond Chip Gelato - January 15, 2013

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Fiorello's
Coconut Almond Chip Gelato
Good
Weight: 1/2 cup (115 g.) serving/ 1 Pint (473 mL) container
Calories: 330 calories in 1/2 cup serving
Cost: $7.99 for 1 Pint
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today marked Day #1 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week. While the popularity of the coconut seems to wax and wane in haute cuisine, there seemed to be a bounty of coconut and chocolate items available in bar, truffle and many other forms.

Cool coconut 

Today's first chocolate choice came straight from my freezer -- a scoop of Coconut Almond Chip gelato from Fiorello's (San Rafael, CA).

According to the label, 1/2 cup of this gelato clocked in at 330 calories, probably due to its dense cream base, coconut cream and egg yolks. It was rich enough that I left off the fudge topping, and opted for chopped, roasted, unsalted almonds instead. The chocolate chips/flakes embedded in this gelato added some subtle chocolate flavor that helped balance the cream and coconut.

And to warm things up...

Later in the evening I sampled two Coconut Rum truffles (pictured at right) with a chocolate ganache interior, and a white chocolate and tropical orange exterior, from Laderach's truffle and praline collection. I enjoyed their festive color and crescent shape, as well as just a hint of rum flavor. 

ChocolateBet: June 16, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Fiorello's
Mint Chip Artisan Gelato
Very Good
Weight: 1/2 cup / 1 Pint (473 mL - estimate) container
Calories: 190 calories (estimate)
Cost: $7.99 for 1 Pint
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Mint Ice Cream Theme Week. Warm weather once again called for some kind of frozen treat. I breakfasted upon a small bowl of delicious Mint Chip Artisan Gelato from Fiorello's (San Rafael, CA).

The Mint Chip gelato was flavorful, dense, creamy and satisfying without being too sweet or heavy. While price does not always correlate with better taste, this was a case where I paid more for a quality product, and I was happier with the result. I was also happy to see a natural, cream-colored gelato base. While I love colors, I can live without brightly or artificially colored (green) mint desserts.

As for the chocolate, instead of hard, frozen chips, this gelato was filled with small, grated pieces and flecks of chocolate, which tasted much better.

Last, but not least, below was a quote from Christine C.'s review of Fiorello's on yelp. Although this review was for the company's chocolate hazelnut gelato, I loved the idea that two flavors could high five each other. It made me smile.

"...Neither the chocolate nor the hazelnut overpowers each other. Instead, they high five each other and let each other shine."

Ditto for today's mint and chocolate flavors.