Best of Gelato: M’o Il Gelato

Where: M’o Il Gelato, 178 Mulberry St., SoHo

What: While downtown Manhattan offers a plethora of delicious gelato shops, like A.B. Biagi and Popbar, none have something quite like M’o Il Gelato: a gelato panino. We visited this Little Italy shop to try their Instagram-famous paninis. These rich treats consist of a scoop of gelato sandwiched between two warm sweet bread slices, dusted in powdered sugar.They have a selection of about fifteen flavors, including pistachio and coconut, and sorbet flavors, like lime and mango. We tried the delirium and bacio gelato flavors in our paninos. Both were rich and sweet, and the cold gelato went perfectly with the slightly warmed, fluffy bread.

Inside, M’o Il Gelato is small with a few seats. We recommend sitting outside on their large benches or taking a walk around the adorable neighborhood with your gelato. The service was friendly and they let us sample multiple flavors before we made our decision.

If you’re around Little Italy and want a fun twist on an authentic Italian staple, stop by M’o Il Gelato for a hot gelato panino!

NY Bites Abroad: Eyescream and Friends, Barcelona

  

 

Where: Eyescream and Friends, Paseo Joan de Borbo 30, Barcelona, Spain

What: Sightseeing and beach-going can get tiring, especially under Barcelona’s hot sun, so you’ll probably want to cool down with some ice cream. Located in Barceloneta, right by the beach, Eyescream and Friends serves shaved ice with toppings and candy eyes, making each cup of ice cream an adorable and personalized creation.

Start by grabbing one of the cardboard cupholders located at the front of the store. Then work your way back, choosing 2 toppings and a shaved ice flavor. Flavors included chocolate, strawberry, mango, vanilla, and more, and toppings ranged from gummy bears to condensed milk. Your ice cream will get a set of sugar candy eyes, and then you can add the toppings onto the bowl. The experience of making the ice cream was fun, but the result was even better. The ice cream was light but very flavorful, and the toppings added a good contrast. One of the bowls we got had chocolate shaved ice, chocolate chips, and condensed milk, which provided the perfect contrast of smooth and crunchy. Although there is no seating inside, you can take your creation outside where there are benches along the street.

Eyescream and Friends is definitely a unique and fun alternative to to all the other gelato and ice cream stores in the city!

NY Bites Abroad: Mamá Framboise, Madrid

    

Where: Mamá Framboise, Calle de Fernando VI, 23, Madrid, Spain

What: Spain has its fair share of delicious pastries. But sometimes you just want a classic French croissant, macaron, or pastry. Mamá Framboise has all of these, and more. Their adorable shop has a counter that displays all of their gorgeous pastries. But if you sit down, you’ll get a menu complete with drawings of what each pastry is made up of, plus more options like crêpes, milkshakes, coffee, and tea. They have a savory menu as well, with sandwiches, quiches, and salads.

We went for an afternoon snack, and ordered a chocolate croissant, a raspberry croissant, a chocolate eclair, and a caramel eclair. The croissants were amazing on their own, but the toppings took them up a level. The chocolate one was covered completely in a layer of chocolate and topped with cocoa nibs and cocoa powder, and had a little chocolate on the inside too. The raspberry one had raspberry jam inside, with powdered sugar, raspberry flavor, and nuts on top. The eclairs had crunch toppings, which went perfectly with the creamy inside.

The shop is nice and large, with floral wallpaper, chalk drawings of different pastries, and rustic tables and floors. It’s situated in the Alonso Martínez neighborhood which is filled with unique restaurants and shops, so make sure you wander around the area after you’re full.

Mamá Framboise is the perfect place to sit with friends, a good book, or some work that needs to get done, in a gorgeous space that makes you feel just like you’re in a quaint little Parisian pastry shop.

NY Bites Abroad: Odette, Paris

  

 

Where: Odette, 77 Rue Galande, Paris

What: If you’re visiting Paris, your first instinct will probably be to head straight for all the croissants, macarons, and eclairs you can find. But there’s one more pastry we think deserves to be on your “must try” list, and it is Odette’s choux à la crème, better known as a cream puff.

But this isn’t your usual cream puff. The pastry comes in 9 different flavors, ranging from classic vanilla to green tea, coffee, and pistachio. Each is topped with a layer of fondant and dusted with a little powdered sugar, making it even cuter than it already is. When you take a bite, you get the thin but fluffy surrounding pastry, the thicker cream, and the sweet top, combining into the perfect pastry.

Odette is located just a short walk from the Notre Dame cathedral, so it’s the perfect break after an afternoon of sightseeing. You can eat upstairs, or outside on one of their streetside tables for the perfect people-watching perch. The service was great, and you can also get a variety of drinks to go with your pastries. These adorable treats also come in boxes to go, making the perfect gifts. We can’t wait to go back and all the rest of Odette’s flavors!

NY Bites Abroad: Horchateria de Santa Catalina, Valencia

      

Where: Horchateria Santa Catalina, Pl. Santa Catalina 6, Valencia, Spain

What: Valencia is most commonly known as the birthplace of paella. But if you’re looking for something a little sweeter, you have to stop by Horchateria Santa Catalina to get a taste of all of Valencia’s most famous dessert offerings. The restaurant is famous for its horchatas, a nut milk drink invented in Valencia, its buñuelos, fried doughnuts typically dipped in thick chocolate sauce, and its fartones, croissant-like pastries that are often served with horchatas. They also offer a variety of other pastries, drinks, and ice creams.

When we went, we ordered a well-rounded sampling of buñuelos, chocolate, a horchata, a farton, and a cortado. The service was quick, and our waitress brought everything to our table on a plastic tray. The buñuelos were light but crunchy, and got just enough sweetness when they were dipped into the chocolate. The horchata was creamy and delicious, but it is definitely not a drink that everyone will like. If you like almond milk you’ll probably like it, but its worth a try if you aren’t sure! The farton tasted great plain, or dipped in either the horchata or the chocolate sauce.

Even with two floors, Horchateria Santa Catalina was completely filled. Luckily, you’ll never have to wait too long for a table because people finish their snacks quickly and the service is fast. If you’ve been sightseeing all day, Horchateria Santa Catalina is the perfect place to sit down, refuel, and get a taste of classic Valencian desserts.

NY Bites Abroad: Salon des Fleurs, Madrid

     

Where: Salon des Fleurs, Calle Guzmán El Bueno, Madrid, Spain

What: Salon des Fleurs is a combination of a perfectly curated floral shop, a quaint teahouse, your favorite bakery, and a gorgeous gift shop. From the bright flower displays outside to the giant windows with hanging lights inside, everything about this cafe is picture perfect. Their menu consists of about 10 different teas, including whimsical flavors like Strawberry Champagne and Mint Chocolate. They also had an assortment of cakes and cookies. We ordered at the counter and sat down in the main seating area, which included pink chairs, sofas with plenty of pillows, and abundant natural light. There is also a basement that was closed off while we stopped by, and a loft that had tea sets, books, and more for sale.

We ordered the Apple Pie and Salon des Fleurs teas, along with the double chocolate, red velvet, and carrot cakes. The Apple Pie tasted like apple spice, and would be perfect for fall. The Salon des Fleurs was sweet and floral. The cakes were good for Madrid standards, though not quite as sweet and moist as cake in the U.S.

If you want to feel like you’ve stepped into a fairy-tale, go grab a cup of tea at Salon des Fleurs!

NY Bites Abroad: San Ginés, Madrid

     

 

Where: Chocolateria San Ginés, Pasadizo de San Ginés, 5, Madrid

What: If you’re in Madrid, you have to try churros. And if you try churros, you have to go to San Ginés. The cafe is open 24 hours every day, and is the perfect snack any time. As soon as you step in the door, you can get in line to order your churros. The most popular option is the churros y chocolate, which comes with 6 churros and a cup of melted chocolate for 3.90 euros. Once you have a receipt, you can sit anywhere in the dining area, which extends downstairs as well. The walls are lined with photos of famous visitors to the chocolateria. Soon, a waiter will pick up your receipt and bring freshly cut churros and hot chocolate to your table.

The churros aren’t the typical overly sweet cinnamon sugar type that you’ll find in the US. These are plain fried dough, but are extra crunchy and thin. The warm chocolate is thick enough to dip the churros into, but thin enough to drink once you’ve finished your churros. And like the churros, it isn’t extra sugary. If you want some extra sweetness, each table has a container of powdered sugar.

Between the amazing churros and the classic space, San Ginés is a must-visit for anyone visiting Spain’s capital!

Chloe’s Soft Serve Fruit Co.: Best of Ice Cream

 

Where: Chloe’s Soft Serve Fruit Co., 25 East 17th Street, Union Square

What: We weren’t sure what to categorize Chloe’s under because technically, they don’t serve ice cream! Instead, they offer soft serve fruit, a combination of fruit, water, and a small amount of organic cane sugar. Their soft serve is more like Italian ice with a creamy texture. Just like a typical froyo store, they offer a wide variety of toppings. Chloe’s also serves smoothies, popsicles, and breakfast options including waffles, oatmeal, and a fruit platter.

We got two sundaes, the Crunchy Salty and the Tropical Sunrise. The Crunchy Salty was banana and dark chocolate soft serve fruit with banana, pretzels, warm natural peanut butter, chocolate chips, and melted chocolate. The Tropical Sunrise consisted of mango soft serve fruit, mango, pineapple, and banana, which we substituted with toasted coconut. Both flavor combinations worked very well and the topping varieties added a fun crunch.

For a regular size, the plain soft serve costs $5 with $.50 per additional topping, which adds up quickly, especially with the sundaes. Both of ours were about $7, which felt expensive for a cup of ice cream. However, Chloe’s does offer a product that is much healthier than ice cream, so it might be worth the splurge if you’re in the mood for something more natural.

Their Union Square location, which is the only one besides a seasonal location in Montauk, offered a few tables and window-bar seating. The space had tall ceilings and was bright and colorful. It was perfectly situated off of Union Square for people (and dog!) watching.

Stop by Chloe’s for a refreshing afternoon pick-me-up that will brighten the rest of your day.

City Bakery: Best of Hot Chocolate

   

 

Where: City Bakery, 3 West 18th Street, Union Square

What: As the weather cools down, it’s time to start replacing your iced drinks with hot concoctions. We started out by going to the classic hot chocolate spot, City Bakery. We also ended up getting a sampling of their lunch options. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by lots of different food stations. There was the drink and bakery area, a juice bar, a hot foods counter, and a cold buffet. We grabbed corn salad, pasta salad, chicken salad, eggplant, and queso fresco form the cold bar and spaghetti squash from the hot foods counter. We got their signature hot chocolate at the bakery section. We opted for seats by the large windows, but there was plenty of seating elsewhere around the store and upstairs. The tables were small and the area was crowded with people on their lunch breaks.

When City Bakery says “hot chocolate,” they literally mean hot, melted chocolate. After we ordered our drinks, we watched the barista ladle melted chocolate out of a heated pot into bright blue cups. The hot chocolate was really hot at first and thick enough so that you couldn’t drink too much in one sip. Even after we finished our entire lunch, we still hadn’t finished our hot chocolates. We took them to go, but ended up not being able to down the whole cup of rich deliciousness. It wasn’t that they were bad, just that they were overwhelmingly rich by the end.

With the fast-approaching holiday season, City Bakery will definitely be on our regular rotation.

Mr. Softee: Best of Ice Cream

Where: Mr. Softee Truck, Union Square East (and other various locations)

What: Chances are, if the weather is warm and you’re walking around New York City, you’ll see a blue and white Mr. Softee truck. Located all around the city, these trucks serve vanilla and chocolate soft serve with various toppings as well as sundaes, shakes, and other branded popsicles. Walk up to the truck’s window and be greeted by a jolly ice cream server who will take your order and create your dessert. Toppings vary from truck to truck, but typically include rainbow sprinkles, chocolate sprinkles, chocolate dip, cherry dip, and nuts. You can also choose from a cup, a cone, or a double cone. We tried out a double cone with chocolate and vanilla soft serve covered in rainbow sprinkles, and a single vanilla soft serve cone with rainbow sprinkles. The ice cream isn’t your typical soft serve. It is light and fluffy in texture, almost like a marshmallow or mousse. The sprinkles added a nice crunch to this texture. Mr. Softee trucks tend to disappear as quickly as the warm weather, so make sure that if you see one of the iconic trucks, you stop and grab this classic summer staple.