Lunds/Byerly's New Gelato [MSP]

[jaycooke]

Has anyone else tried the new Lunds/Byerly's store brand of gelato imported from Italy? I tried the Caramel Cream (with toasted almonds) and Dark Chocolate flavors and was very impressed ... creamy textures, rich flavors, and actually formed so it looks like gelato from a gelateria. It's been over five years since I've had gelato in Italy, so i don't remember how it compares to that, but I'm hooked on these. They also have some Italian sorbets in the same case, the lemon is quite tart.

[drew13000]

Byerly's and Lund's were both giving out samples of the caramel cream on Sunday. I ended up buying the Hazelnut, and wasn't thrilled. I liked the whole hazelnuts scattered across the top, but the flavor wasn't good. I ate gelato (usually hazelnut "nocciola") at least twice a day for the two months I was in Italy, so I consider myself qualified to comment. :) I would be I agree with TDQ--this isn't exactly like gelato, but not quite like ice cream either. I did think the caramel cream was awesome, so I'd be willing to try other flavors. I think the test of an authentic gelato is the fruit flavors. There's a big difference between strawberry gelato and strawberry ice cream.

[beelzebozo]

i tried the hazelnut this evening and was thoroughly unimpressed. that weird fluffy texture is not to my liking.

conversely i had a scoop of edy's that was roughly the same amount of calories and much more dense, pleasant, and flavorful.

[dawneileen67]

everyone... I love this board!! you all have me running all over the cities finding great treasures. as some of you know, I just moved here from Milwaukee. I have never heard of Lunds/Byerly's until reading this post. And last night my boyfriend and I were driving around south of St. Paul and I asked him if we could stop at Byerly's in Eagan, so I could pick up some soup and french bread and this gelato to try it out!!

I was absolutely delighted with the place... especially the beautiful desserts at the bakery!! I usually hate grocery shopping... I don't care for Cub or Festival... but the experience at Byerly's was fun for me. I also like going to Kowalski's in Woodbury for lunch... and loading up on pasta salads. :-)

Jay... I bought the tiramisu flavor gelato... it was delicious. we were dipping into it in the truck on our drive home, I didn't want to wait. :-) thanks for the recommendation!

[reannd]

I also love Byerly's bakery. My husband told me they are now going to be baking the muffins for Holiday gas stations.. I don't believe him, but it would be kind of fun if it were true.

They're one of the only places besides coops & the wedge that don't use hydrogenated shortening. Plus everything is so cute & fun. I love it there. Keep your eyes peeled come thanksgiving. Last year they made a cake in the shape of a carved turkey. It was the coolest creation I'd ever seen. (but I really like cake and am generally on the silly side).

[The Dairy Queen]

Along the lines of cute and fun bakeries, I love P.J. Murphy's (on Randolph in St. Paul) cookies. They currently have all kinds of "back to school" cookies in the case right now--bright yellow school buses, shiny apples, and a chalk boards, in addition to their regular adorable monster cookies and "tea hat" cookies. They do change things around with the seasons.

~TDQ

[reannd]

Cool!! never heard of it. I will have to go!

[The Dairy Queen]

Thank you for the heads up on this. Very interesting. I tried the caramel cream and

#1: Wow, beautiful presentation with peaks and swirls and sprinkling of almonds on top. (I wish I'd thought to snap a photo for y'all, sorry.)
#2: What's with the trick plastic container? Or, am I just a goofball?
#3: I wished I hadn't flipped the box over and read the ingredients: "nonfat milk" and "sucrose & glucose syrup (corn)" were the first two.
#4: I think it's too fluffy and airy to pass as gelato, which I think of as much more dense and slippery.
#5: But, it's awfully good as its own product. Not exactly gelato, not exactly ice cream, but something very good unto itself: softserve ice cream goes Italian.

I'll have to investigate some of the other flavors. Byerly's has them on sale right now.

~TDQ

[jaycooke]

It says on the lid to lift all four corners ... they kind of break off and then it's easy to open and close. Took me a minute or two to figure out.

[The Dairy Queen]

Funny--I was trying to avoid breaking them. I do like this ice cream. I have it in my freezer at the office and have been looking forward to treating myself to it all day.

~TDQ

[liney714]

We tried the carmel cream as well. We loved it and found a new addiction