Significant Discovery

I made the sorry mistake of turning down a dark and narrow street yesterday afternoon. Off a main street linking two shopping neighborhoods, I decided to take a different route toward the plaza where I was headed and stumbled on what may be my most significant find since I’ve been in Spain. Los Italianos Heladeria (ice cream shop) may sell the best dessert in the city. Gelato artists dressed in pressed white shirts and black pants gracefully scoop perfect balls of the rich and creamy frozen confection. The interior of the place is quite elegant, with three chandeliers dangling over the heads of very lucky customers. Unlike shops that artfully display the flavors in a glass case, a tall marble counter at Los Italianos hides the ice creams from view until the server quickly but delicately places the final product into the hands of the eager eater. The best (or worst) part about the place is that $1.60 buys a perfect portion of deliciousness in a homemade cone. Of course, I went for more than a single scoop, opting for the “tarta.” Basically a slice of ice cream cake in a cone, the tarta allows for multiple flavors in one bite. Mine began with dulce de leche on top of chocolate on top of vanilla, covered with candied nut cream. All of that in a wide waffle cone made for an unbelievable treat. Joined by kids, grandparents, business women, and parents, I stood off to the side of the shop to enjoy my dessert and watch the incredible production take place before me. Though you can pay the server directly, paying first at the cashier and receiving a token to hand to the server is the most effective method of ordering as it allows for the most decision-making time, a crucial part of any Los Italianos visit. As my tarta shrank, I observed the professional ice cream artists quickly filling quarts and half gallons to go, making a masterpiece of several melon ball-sized scoops in a cone, drizzling hazelnut syrup over top of the whipped cream on a sundae, and doing it all with speed. Today, I returned with a group of seven, hoping to promote this tucked-away gem to those who would not have otherwise found it. Everyone enjoyed the creaminess, noting that this gelato was creamier than any other we’ve had in Granada. Agreed. Los Italianos makes me seriously question the importance of a balanced meal. Tarta in a cone counts as at least two food groups, and two is better than none! I wonder if it’s open right now…