Dri Dri, Dubai.

In the sweltering heat of Dubai there is no better taste than a cool gelato. 

Dri Dri, an Italian branch of gelato shops that has a shop in Brazil, Bahrain, London, and is opening a fifth in Dubai, was splendid. 

In my opinion, the best gelato shops are those in which the ice cream and sorbet flavours available switch, depending on the quality of the products that season/ month/ day. This then clearly demonstrates that a shop pays attention to what products they are using. Dri Dri, of course, is one of those shops that alternate. 

Staying in Dubai for three days, on a layover to Sri Lanka, we were able to (between the four of us) taste most of the flavours!! After visiting the 'Old Dubai', walking in the gold market, seeing the Burj Khalifa, or any trip really, it was always lovely to pass by Dri Dri on the way back to the hotel. 

We were always warmly welcomed, and got to know Diana, who has been working for Dri Dri Dubai since it opened, five years ago. Originally Phillipino, she was formed in making the gelato and the ice cream cones (which are absolutely delicious) when beginning the job. 

If you can deal with the heat, I would recommend getting an ice cream and walking along the jemeira beach. However, beware if you go, as we did, in the midst of summer, you'll have to eat your gelato very rapidly before it melts!

My favourite flavour was raspberry, which was truly delicious, although I was unable to taste the house speciality, pistachio. I found the lime and green apple sorbets a bit too sugary, but good nonetheless. My brother (who is less of a sorbet boy) loved the cookies and cream!

                                              

My only criticism of this charming shop is that you cannot get one scoop in a cone, as they charge you the same as two scoops. 

Regardless, I highly highly recommend these gelato shops as they have tasty flavours, yummy ice cream, and lovely ice-cream makers and servers! 

                 A Dri Dri Collage 

Another positive: the helpings are huge!!! 

Caffi Patio, Llangrannog beach, Wales. By Niamh Fenton

After taking the dogs on a long walk next to the coast line of Wales, we were all feeling peckish and stopped off next to a small beach with a small selection of shops. Despite the rain, the ice cream looked amazing so we all decided to get some.

I had the caramel biscuit ice cream (that tastes just like biscuit spread) which was super good! My dad had salted caramel and my mum had peanut butter and they both ate them very quickly and wouldn't let me try them so I'm assuming they were equally delicious 😊 I would really recommend this wonderful ice cream shop!! 

Típika, Arequipa, Peru; by Sam Annetts

In the gorgeous town of Arequipa in Peru, just outside of the historical centre, I had a delicious almond gelato in the rustic restaurant, Típika.

The desert was perfect in the heat, and if you have a sweet palate like me, I would really recommend the almond flavour!! The meal was very yummy as well.

Típika,

Av. Luna Pizarro 407,

Arequipa,

Peru 

By Sam Annetts

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Pumparela, Split, Croatia, Suggested by Ed King & Niamh Fenton, Written by Niamh Fenton

When waiting for a bus to take to the split rock waterfalls (worth a visit!), we decided to take a stroll around the old town of Split. As it was midday, the temperature had soared to 33 degrees, so we all desperately needed something cold! Fortunately, Pumparela was situated directly opposite the Cathedral of Saint Dominus, enabling us to eat ice cream whilst site seeing. A family business, the shop was welcoming and everything (12 flavours) looked delicious!

To cool down, I got a citrus sorbet, and although sour, it was incredibly refreshing. Meanwhile, Ed and Rosie got chocolate chip and berry flavours, which they loved.

Pumparela, 

opposite the Cathedral of St Dominus, 

Split, Croatia

By Niamh Fenton

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Anjuna Ice Pops! Budapest; Par Clémence Benault

Délicieux bâtonnets de glace super raffraichissants dans Budapest! Juste a cote de Millenáris Park, chose parfaite pour se balader dans Budapest l'été, ou comme dessert après le dîner. Nous avons adoré le gout KIWI :)

 

Anjuna Ice Pops, Lövöház Utca 24, Budapest, Hungary

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Stop on the road from Trincomalee for an ice cream or more at Mango Mango! --Sri Lanka

From the beach of Trincomalee to bustling Colombo, the journey by car can be a long one, particularly if you get stuck in traffic on the way into Colombo (three hours for us). However, fear not! Just 4km from the beautiful Buddhist site of Anarudhapura, this typical Sri Lankan food restaurant is delicious, and has clean toilets too!

Although the ice cream was not the best I have ever eaten, it was lovely and refreshing after the delicious traditional Sri Lankan dish, Lamprais, which usually consists of rice and Lampara curry wrapped and cooked in banana leaves. This dish being a tad spicy, an ice cream was just what we needed, and only for 80 Sri Lankan Rupees (be it around 0.5€).

I would really recommend this en route stop, which is delicious and not very touristy!


 

Mango Mango Restaurant
Jayanthi Mawatha, Anuradhapura, 
Sri Lanka

Brother gobbling a chocolate ice cream, which he judged was the best, along with vanilla; the two classics!

La Dolce Vita: Pavè Gelati e Granite Milano, Italia. By Laure Deriaz

La Dolce Vita: Pavè Gelati e Granite Milano

On a hot summer’s Sunday, we strolled off the beaten track of Milan, sick to death of the Piazza di Duomo and the endless designer shops and discovered Pavè Gelati e Granite in the Tribunale/Porta Vittoria district. Pavè is a small artisanal ‘laboratory’ of homemade gelati and granite (a frozen Sicilian slushy) and the sister shop to its original pasticceria, which is located near to the Milan Centrale train station.

Upon entering the shop, you are struck by its minimalistic and clean décor – white brick and duck-egg blue walls as well as the marble tabletop which houses their delicious icecreams – almost as if it was made for taking Instagram-worthy photos. Their multitude of flavours (which change regularly) are printed on a grey slate hung in the middle, taking centre stage.









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At the shop you can try their brioche with
gelato inside, although 
we were too full!

I opted for coffee & cardamom and apricot, whilst my brother went for chocolate sorbet, panna (cream) and melon & chili (which was a strange combination but really good!). My dad decided on sbrisolona – which Marco, the guy working at Pavè, explained was a typical Italian cake they took and blended with a vanilla gelato, leaving chunks of the cake in the gelato: yum!, - and pineapple, rocket & lime, again rather unique but really refreshing on such a hot day.

 

We decided to sit inside to beat the hot sun and so our gelati didn’t melt, but there are also some benches provided outside -

Whilst eating our ice-creams we asked Marco what his favourite thing to have was: he replied that it was the melon granite, as it was “refreshing” and he would often have a cup after a long day at work. Tempted by his recommendation and the free sample we tried, we decided to be greedy and have some granite for the way back… And they did not disappoint! The melon granite was surprisingly light and refreshing, with bits of melon inside it, so delicious that I would go back to Milan in a heartbeat to get it again! I chose the blueberry granite (with free cream!) which was also really good but not as mind-blowing as the melon one. Thanks Marco!

Next time we will be back to try this artery-clogging dessert –

                             Brioche, gelato & cream sandwich  (photo courtesy of Pavè Milano Instagram)

Pavè Gelati e Granite

Via Cesare Battisti 21, Milano

+39 02 94383619

Opening hours:

Tues-Sun 12:00-20:30

Mondays closed (except in July & August open 7/7)

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Me In My Element!! 😉

Video sur Gelato & Coffee, Lille, par Clothilde Leguevaques:

http://www.grandlille.tv/index.php/linfo-en-direct/dernieres-actualites?q=HyzO4v06HxU

Wonderful article from a well travelled blogger!

Where to find the best ice cream in the world?

http://www.worldofwanderlust.com/find-best-ice-cream-world/

Panna e Cioccolato, Tulum, Yucatán, Mexico

My family and I fell in love with Mexico, or, more precisely, the Yucatán in summer 2011. This led us to return twice more, once to Tulum, and another time to the beautiful island of Holbox. 

Tulum is a gorgeous coastal city, which was one of the last built and inhabited by the Mayan civilisation. With the ruins of the city walls and part of this historic site still standing and available to visit, Tulum has kept its charm despite the tourists that come, often on their way to Chichen Itza or back to Cancún. The beaches of Tulum and surrounding it are magical, whether it be for a morning run or yoga session, or a stroll during sunset.

Kite-surfing, sun-tanning, guacamole- eating, our experience in this unique city would not have been the same if we had not discovered our soon-to-be favourite gelato shop(s). Panna e cioccolato, well known by locals, has two shops on the two ends of Tulum's main high street, in the midst of shops selling dancing skeletons and restaurants playing Mexican music and serving delicious food, whether it be Argentinian meat or traditional Mexican fajitas.

Panna e Cioccolato soon became our favourite and routine "desert-stop", and when returning to Tulum, we were unbelievably excited to go back! With alternating gelatos, Panna e Cioccolato has a rich selection of tastes, our favourite being Ferrero Rocher. Indeed, if one of the shops did not have Ferrero Rocher, we would walk to the other extremity of the high street in the hope that the other would!! After a day in the heat and sun, to stroll around in the evening darkness, lit up by all of the shops, and live Mexican music heard at every corner, with a cone in hand filled with refreshing ice cream is the loveliest feeling.

Of course, my top recommendation- in term of tastes- is Ferrero Rocher. But, if this is not your type of choice the sorbets (especially lemon) are also fantastic.

Panna e Cioccolato was where my mum first suggested we begin a blog of the best of the world's gelato, because it seemed to prove that wherever you go, you will always discover that one special selection of gelato. This little shop, with monkeys at the top, truly made our stay in Tulum even greater and undoubtedly contributed to us returning 2 years later.

If you ever have the chance to go to Tulum, go to Panna e Cioccolato quickly, so you share our love for it, and return every day thereafter!

http://www.pannaecioccolato.com.mx/

Momofuku Milk Bar, East Village, Manhattan, New York City. By Celia Dodds.

Having spent 3 months in New York I became very used to trying new and completely original foods, however, Momofuku Milk Bar, by David Chang, is one of my favourite spots. I was introduced to the cereal milk ice cream with cornflake crunch and I was instantly hooked. This combination is one of Momofuku's best loved and as the perfect mix of salty and sweet, it's easy to see why. Although the milk bar does not do many flavours of ice cream, it is definitely worth a trip!

By Celia Dodds

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Gelateria Da Vinci, Bruges, Belgique. Par Charlotte Rousseau

Une boule de sorbet à la mangue et une boule stracciatella, une promenade sur la Grande Place de la magnifique ville de Bruges, avec un rayon de soleil sur nous, rien de plus parfait!! La glace était délicieuse! J’espère y retourner bientôt!  

Par Charlotte Rousseau 

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Il Pensiero, Lodi, Italia. By Mari de Soissons

Its very serendipitous chance that I happen to be in Italy on a choir tour whilst reading this, and there's a wonderful gelateria here where I'm staying in a small Lombard town called Lodi called Il Pensiero. In Italy, excellent food is seen as a basic right (such is their cultural superiority!) so for just for 2€ you can get an enormous cone of delicious ice cream made on site, with a choice of around 60 flavours (including sorbets, lactose free soy alternatives and the like). My friends and I have been frequenting it daily and it is definitely up there amongst my favourite gelato experiences!

By Mari de Soissons 

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Gelato & Coffee, best gelato in Lille!

I've spent the last month in Lille, staying at my cousin's and interning at Grand Lille TV and Direct Matin (newspaper) during the day. I would have never thought that in this rainy, yet charming, city, that I would taste the best gelato I have ever had in my life.

Yes, before you ask, I have been to Italy! And yes, I savoured some of the best ice cream I have had in the gorgeous cities of Milan, Rome, and Venice, eating around two gelatos a day! Yet, to my surprise it is the little, privately- owned shop of Gelato & Coffee in Lille that from today onwards I will call the best gelato of my life.

I had the luck of meeting Corrado Barberis (the owner) himself. Piedmontese of origin, he worked in the economy in Italy. However, after following his wife to Lille and realising the lack of truly delicious gelato in Lille, he decided to form himself as a gelato maker. Starting the business three years ago, but only selling to restaurants at the beginning, he worked during the night to make the best gelato he possibly could, and sold the ice cream during the day. "When making gelato, if you want to make the best, you cannot take shortcuts, patience is key," he advises. One year ago, he opened his lavender-themed, beautifully decorated shop on rue Basse. Having worked night and day, he now has an employee (Karine) that works in the shop, and another in the laboratory making ice-cream. Although the weather does not always encourage people to go for ice cream, Gelato & Coffee has a lovely upstairs room for shelter, and now also supplies around a dozen restaurants with their heavenly ice cream.

All hand-made, Gelato & Coffee has many different types of gelato, from salty chocolate, to melon sorbet, to tiramisu, which alternate depending on the season, and the maker's creativeness. But the best of all in my opinion is the pistachio. I do not usually go for pistachio, however, attempting to be adventurous, and following Corrado's advice, I had a try. In a crunchy cone, the gelato was light, yet tasty, and unbelievably delicious. On a separate note, the cappuccinos are very good too!

This little ice cream stop brightened my day, and whether it is raining, cloudy, or sunny, I highly recommend any passerby in Lille to taste Gelato & Coffee's exquisite products!

http://www.gelatoandcoffee.com/index.asp
Gelato & Coffee will soon be opening in Le Touquet!

Le Café Argana, Marrakech

My very first post should be about the city, and more specifically, the shop, that first nurtured my love for gelato.

Since I was two years old, my family and I have been travelling to Marrakech, Morocco. Having, quite by chance, purchased a riad in the Medina (old town) of Marrakech, my brother Constantin and I have spent most of our holidays in this magnificent city. Naturally, when you spend that much time somewhere, one tends to create new traditions and routines. Buying warm bread fresh out of the baker's oven after tennis, mint tea after lunch, watching the sunset over Marrakech and the Atlas mountains from the top of the Café des Épices. However, the "tradition" that we have undoubtedly kept to the most is going to Place Jemaa el Fna (the main square of Marrakech) at 4 o'clock for our goûter at the Argana Café.

Finally reopened, I would recommend the café to all, whether it be to take away and stroll around this large square filled with shows, from belly dancers to gnawas, and stands, from freshly pressed orange juice to CDs, or it be to sit upstairs with view on this bustling place and the Koutoubia (Marrakech's most famous mosque) in the background.

The man behind the ice cream counter knew us very well, giving us treats from time to time, such as whipped cream, and always serving us the biggest helpings! The ice creams are all truly delicious: my brother's favourite was stracciatella, and  mine was mango, but I do not think there was one we tasted that we did not like! Additionally, if you do decide to sit in the café, maybe to take a break from the heat, I would recommend tasting one of their other treats involving ice cream. I will always remember my 11th birthday, for which my mum took me to the Argana. I had freshly pressed orange juice with vanilla ice cream inside, the yumminess of which I think truly made my day (combined with the holiday feeling of Marrakech and my mum's company of course ;) ).

In the historical centre of one of the most beautiful cities on the planet, a refreshing gelato from L'Argana is always what you need.

Introduction to ' The Best of the World's Gelato'

The aim of this blog is to help share where that secret gelato shop selling the most exquisite, tastebud tingling, gelato is located around the world. One of my favourite things when in a new place, is exploring whilst enjoying a delicious gelato, or ice cream. What's the difference? Supposedly, gelato has a higher proportion of milk and a lower proportion of cream and eggs. However, in a world where the two are often muddled, for the sake of simplicity in this blog we will claim them equals. As for sorbet, which I also adore, we will also count it as part of the group, unless talking about a specifically succulent sorbet.

My name is Capucine Cogné, I am a student in London, where I have lived all of my life, despite both of my parents being French. I have travelled a lot in my 19 years, and it was in Mexico, in the beautiful little town of Tulum that my mother had the idea of creating a website or book about the best gelato shops in the world. Morocco, Mexico, India, Indonesia, Spain, Greece, China, Italy, and more; I have had the luck of tasting ice cream of many nationalities. For me, nothing tastes more like holidays than a yummy cone, filled with vanilla gelato or mango sorbet. However, most cities, towns, or islands I have travelled to had one gelato shop with wonderful products I especially loved. This blog will thus enable me to share these with family, friends, and other travellers, or even locals, to give these shops the credit they deserve. 

Having attended an international school, and now attending an international university, I am also hoping to ask friends for recommendations of their favourite gelato shop. On top of this, I invite all gelato-lovers to send me their recommendations too, to capucinecogne@gmail.com! 

Soon I hope to have a rich repertoire of all of the best of the world's gelato!

Whatever time of day, whatever the weather, wherever you go, you can always lift your spirits with gelato!