After living in Italy for a year, American ice cream just doesn’t do it for me anymore. Not even a pint of Haagen-Dazs or Ben and Jerry’s can compare to just one bite of the rich, creamy, fresh, flavor-infused ambrosia that is Italian gelato. I used to think there was something about the air in Italy that made their gelato (don’t call it ice cream!) taste so delicious. But I was wrong – Capogiro, which just opened a new branch on 39th and Walnut, makes gelato that’s every bit as transcendent as what you find in the gelaterias of Italy.

Not only is gelato incredibly delicious, it’s not even that bad for you: it’s made with whole milk instead of cream, which means it has half the calories of regular ice cream. Capogiro uses Fior di Latte made from Amish sweet milk as their base flavor, and then adds in other ingredients and flavorings (all natural, of course!). They also offer up fruit flavored sorbetos, which are dairy-free. It would be hard to pick a favorite flavor out of their astounding 300 varieties (don’t worry – they’re not *all* available every day), but pistachio and dark chocolate are classics that are hard to beat. A taste of their chocolate hazelnut also brought me right back to the cobbled alleyways of Rome. There are also flavors for the more adventurous: rosemary, anyone?

In addition to serving up amazing gelato, Capogiro is a full-service café. Stop by in the morning for coffee, homemade yoghurt, and granola, or come by at lunch time for a fresh panini, salad, or tramezzini (simple Italian crust-less sandwiches cut into triangles). Or, better yet, come by after work or at night because the University City branch of Capogiro is the only one with… wait for it… a LIQUOR LISCENSE! Their bar serves up a whole slew of mouthwatering gelato cocktails, as well as your more familiar drinks. They also have two beers on tap. Could one *gelato* parlor be any more perfect?

Capogiro
3900 Walnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
www.capogirogelato.com