Global ice cream bike tour
I'm organizing a casual bike and ice-cream tasting tour for some friends in September - a Giro del Gelato or Tour de Glacee, I guess. Does anybody have suggestions for great ice cream places that aren't just American. So far, I'm thinking Penguin on Lawrence(Argentina, right?), Australian Ice Cream Co. on Soutport (Australia, obviously), Caffe Gelato on Division (Italy). Or does anyone know a good gelato place on Taylor Street? Any other global ice cream places you can think of? I remember once reading an article about a place on Devon that has interesting Indian flavors. Many thanks.
DimitraT
Aug 02, 2004 11:49AM
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1. Australian Homemade is actually from Holland, but still fits your international theme.
2. The Taylor Street neighborhood is more renowned for ices than ice cream, most famously at Mario's (across the street from Al's, and open strictly seasonally -- so may be closed before your jaunt), but Carm's (on Polk) also dishes up a very good ice and has a couple of table outside.
3. Dave's in Pilsen has erratic hours, but if you catch it open they serve good tamarind ice cream.
4. Others have spoken highly of Miami Flavors (a recent post by Lill describes it), but I've not been.
5. Depending on how ambitious you are, Harlem and North Avenues play host to some geletarias, my favorite being Caffe Italia (went back this weekend with my son), about 2600 N. Harlem, which also has nice al fresco tables.
Good luck and have fun.
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Tropical ice cream flavors would make a nice addition to your tour (which sounds like a most excellent way to spend a summer day). See my update on Miami Flavors below. (Divison near Western)
Lill
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Thanks for the suggestion. Is Miami Flavors still open? I stopped by there yesterday just after 12:00 and it wasn't open even the sign said they were supposed to be.
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Yes, it is open in general, but since it's a small owner-operated place, it wouldn't surprise me that it didn't follow posted hours. I've always stopped by in the afternoon or early evening and found it open. Good luck on your tour,
Lill
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Miami Flavors has a printed piece of paper with their hours on the door. These times are different than the hours stencilled on the door itself.
Also, FWIW, the Australian gelato shop is actually Belgian; the person who started the chain was an Aussie but his grandmother, whose recipe he used, is/was Belgian.
Massa's on North Ave. and Freddy's on...16 Avenue (not street)(?... just south of North Ave.) also have pleasant gelato, as did Ice Dreams on Halsted, north of Diversey.
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Freddy's is in Cicero on 1600 S. 61st Ave. (note that Cicero's numbered streets run N-S). It's a lot of fun, with al fresco tables. Kind of a long and dicey bike ride from downtown, though.
I mentioned North Ave. as a possible destintion. Massa's took over the space long operated by Al Gelato. The gelato is decent but not exactly mind-blowing.
You are correct re Australian Homemade; its website indicates corp. HQ in Brussels.
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"I mentioned North Ave. as a possible destintion. Massa's took over the space long operated by Al Gelato. The gelato is decent but not exactly mind-blowing."
Yeah, I Massa is OK, but not worth going out of your way for. A lot of their gelato has a cloying, artificial taste that I cannot forgive.
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Suggestions: Don't forget Scooter's Frozen Custard on Belmont at Paulina--this is good stuff and should add some variety to your tour. Also, Bittersweet Bakery, on Belmont east of Ashland, makes great Dulce de Leche ice cream that is saturated with rich flavor. Other flavors there can be either very good or mediocre, but Dulce de Leche is always a winner, easily one of the best scoops of ice cream in the city.
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Village Creamery has some exotic Filipino flavors, I believe, and gets good reviews. I know they have a few suburban locations (one in Skokie), but I'm not sure how geographically widespread your bike tour is. They also offer their wares at some other locations in the city, such as the Beans and Bagels at Rockwell and Leland. At that particular location, there isn't too much in the way of exotic offerings, but they do usually have one or two (purple yam, halo halo, maybe). You also might consider one of the paleterias around the city selling the Mexican pop-/creamsicles. I think the search functions will turn up some paleta posts.
Good luck--I look forward to hearing your itinerary. Cheers,
Aaron
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I echo this recommendation -- there's a Filipino ice cream shop, Dutch Treat Creamery, in Morton Grove on Dempster, just a few blocks west of the Edens, and happily attached to the doctor's office where I spent much of yesterday. The purple yam (ube) was good but uninteresting, I thought, but the maiz was spectacular, toothsome, full of corn flavor, savory. Having found that early, I didn't try other flavors like halo halo and jackfruit, but they're there.
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How about sukhadia's or rajbhog on devon for some saffron/pistachio or mango ???
team brown
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The Penguin IMO is not worthwhile and should be removed from the "essential Chicago" list...
SUPERB GELATO: You must include Ice Dreams on Clark North of Diversey on your tour. Don't miss the Nocciola (Hazelnut), and Strachitella... both awesome renditions of these Italian faves.
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Another place to add to your list: right at Hancock Tower, the north end, basement level (opposite end from Cheesecake Factory) there's a small italian deli that stocks a real nice line of gelatos. Think they get them from either AL Gelato or Ciao Bella... very tasty.
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Oddly, we came across Al Gelato brand treats at an Ethiopian restaurant the other day. Boy, I love the burnt caramel, but it was totally freezer-burned. What a shameful thing to do to good gelato.
Lill
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Thanks to all of you for your great suggestions and good wishes!
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Just opened--Michael Canady (Le Chocolatier) at 824 S. Wabash. Along with hand-made chocolates this store also sells artisanal gelati and sorbets. Stop by on your way back from Taylor Street.
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