Gelato, should be Italian for “Icy Cold Goodness”

Summer is here and my cravings for all summer treats is in high gear.

Hot dogs, water ice, corn on the cob, and gelato, these are a few of my favorite things.

Gelato is an ice cream-like frozen treat that has lower butter fat content, but higher sugar content, than regular ice cream. The flavors of gelato center around fruits, nuts and cocoa, and have a rich, dense taste and smooth texture. Gelato is made in small batches and frozen quickly, which makes it less aerated and bolder tasting than most ice cream available in the area.

Gelato (gelati is plural) literally means “frozen” in Italian, and was invented approximately 500 years ago in Florence, Italy. The dessert only gained mainstream popularity with the general Italian population during the 1920 and 1930’s, when purveyors of the frosty treat started selling it in the streets of Varese via mobile cart.

Growing up in Northeast New Jersey, Gelato was readily available at various Italian markets and street fairs. To my chagrin, when I relocated to Galloway 15 years ago, Gelato could only be found at a hand full of places in Cape May County.

I love Gelato, but not enough to drive an hour or so roundtrip to have a scoop. My cravings had to go unsatisfied until the Borgata Casino was built and the Tropicana Casino opened the Quarter; both have shops that sell delicious Gelato.

But in 2008, Mark & Debbie Becker made my life much easier. They opened Barista’s Coffee House on Jimmie Leeds Road. Barista's offers 12 flavors of Gelato year round.

Now that I can satisfy my frozen sugar needs not only in the summer months, but even on random warm days in the dead of winter by driving right down the road, I want more.

Isn’t it time to have a Jewish Style Deli in Galloway? Someone call Bill Hurst of Fitzpatrick’s Deli in Somers Point and see if he is interested in expanding.