Gelato is a frozen dessert of Italian origin. It is made with a base of 3.25% butterfat whole milk and sugar. It is generally lower in fat than other styles of frozen desserts. Gelato is creamier, smoother and silkier, as well as denser and more elastic and fluid, than American ice cream.
Gelato Spots on Long Island
Azaleas
241 Sunrise Highway, Rockville Centre, L.I., NY 11570
Find out more by calling 516-766-7557 or by visiting azaleasrvc.com.
Dei Coltelli Gelato & Sorbet
591 Willis Ave, Williston Park, L.I., NY 11596
Find out more by visiting deicoltelli.com or calling 516-801-1706.
Dolce Gelateria
Franklin Square:
220 Franklin Avenue, Franklin Square, L.I., NY 11010
Learn more by visiting dolcegelatonyc.com or calling 516-673-4994.
Bellmore:
2942 Merrick Road, Bellmore, L.I., NY 11710
Learn more by visiting dolcegelatonyc.com or calling 631-602-7273.
Gran Caffe
31 Hempstead Ave, Lynbrook, L.I., NY 11563
To find out more, visit grancaffegelateria.com or call 516-887-2878.
International Delight Cafe
322 Bedford Ave, Bellmore, L.I., NY 11710
To learn more, visit idcbellmore.com or call 516-409-5772.
La Nonna Bella
La Nonna Bella – a restaurant with a lovely name that celebrates grandmothers all around the world – couldn’t claim to serve authentic Italian food if they didn’t get every dish right – gelato being the most important item here.
660 Franklin Ave, Garden City, L.I., NY 11530
For more information, visit lanonnabella.com or call 516-248-0366.
Leonetti Pastry Shop
82-16 Glen Cove Rd, Greenvale, L.I., NY 11548
Learn more by visiting leonettipastryshop.com or calling 516-625-8242.
Spiga Bakery
2680 Merrick Rd, Bellmore, L.I., NY 11710
Find out more by visiting spigabakery.com or calling 516-557-2688.
St. Rocco’s Bakery
This bakery sells breads and pizza prepared in a brick oven, pastries, paninis, cookies, cakes, and homemade gelato.
4 St Rocco Pl, Glen Cove, L.I., NY 11542
Visit instagram.com/stroccosbakery or call 516-427-5333 to find out more.
Sugar Bae Dessert Cafe
The cafe serves cold and hot brews, bubble tea, mouthwatering cakes, crepes, waffles, baked goods, and plenty of gelato flavors.
259 W Old Country Rd, Hicksville, L.I., NY 11801
Visit sugarbaecafe.com or call 516-470-9598 to learn more.
ViAle Gelateria
424 Sunrise Hwy Lynbrook, L.I., NY 11563
Find out more by visiting yelp.com/biz/viale-gelateria-lynbrook or calling 516-442-0094.
Yolo Yogurt & Desserts
1355 Old Northern Blvd, Roslyn, L.I., NY 11576
Learn more by visiting yoloyogurtny.com or calling 516-200-9191.
Caffe Italia
1745 Deer Park Ave, Deer Park, L.I., NY 11729
For more information, visit caffeitaliany.com or call 631-667-0201.
Gemelli Gelato
139 W Montauk Hwy, Hampton Bays, L.I., NY 11946
To learn more, visit gemelligelatohamptonbays.com or call 631-594-5600.
Fiorello Dolce
57 Wall St, Huntington, L.I., NY 11743
To find out more, visit fiorellodolce.com or call 631-424-0803.
Lic’s Ice Cream
74 Main St, Northport, L.I., NY 11768
Learn more by visiting licsicecream.com or calling 631-757-9099.
D’Latte Cafe
218 Main Rd, Greenport, L.I. NY 11944
Find out more by visiting dlattecafe.com or calling 631-477-6738.
Sant Ambroeus
30 Main St, Southampton, L.I., NY 11968
For more information, visit santambroeus.com/restaurant-sant-ambroeus-southampton/ or call 631-283-1233.
Ingredients: While both gelato and ice cream contain cream, milk and sugar, authentic gelato uses more milk and less cream than ice cream and generally doesn’t use egg yolks, which are a common ingredient in ice cream.
Butterfat, air and flavor: Ice cream contains at least 10 percent butterfat and usually has between 14 and 25 percent. Meanwhile, Italian gelato includes only about 4 to 9 percent fat. Yet gelato also contains less air than American ice cream — that helps keep it dense, fluid and creamy. And having less butterfat to coat your palate allows the flavors to emerge more, Morano tells The Salt.
Temperature: Another flavor enhancer: Italian gelato is served about 10 to 15 degrees warmer than American ice cream, at about 7 to 12 degrees Fahrenheit, so your mouth is less numb and better able to taste it.