It has been a while since I’ve blogged about our last gelato adventures, so I thought that I’d blog about one of the most famous gelateria in Rome, Il Gelato Di San Crispino.
This gelateria was founded by two brothers, Giuseppe and Pasquale Alongi when they were studying in university and discovered a gelateria. Having liked it so much, they decided to create their own gelato. And after much experimentation and years later, opened their gelateria which stands till today.
Entering the gelateria, the place looks clean and almost spartan. Instead of seeing the rows of colourful gelato as how you’d normally see in a gelateria, the gelati are covered by a metal lid so you cant see underneath how it looks like. And the only indication of the flavours are by the labels underneath it.
From the gist of the website, it is not necessary to know how the gelato looks like anyway, because the gelati are made from scratch and there are no preservatives or colourings used whatsoever. Hence the appearance might look muddy or weak as what we normally know them.
You can buy them in cups and here are the prices for the gelati here. 2 euro for a small cup, 2.60 euro for a medium and 3.40 euro for a large cup. Personally, I find the prices a bit high compared to the size of what you get. But I think its worth trying out once in a while. My only qualm is that the lady serving us seems to always be in a bad mood (that was not my first time going there by the way) to the point of throwing the lids roughly.
Notice that there are no cones? You can’t get cones here as the founders believe that cones contain colourings and affect how the taste is like.
And here were our gelati! Aren’t they pretty?
I had the San Crispino and lampone while Cart had the Pistacchio and San Crispino. We both had panna (cream) on top.
Of course as pretty as they were to look at, eating them was even better. The San Crispino flavour is a basic white ice cream with honey but it tastes delicate and lovely and tastes like springtime and I recommend this flavour to anyone who wants to comes here. The pink part, the lampone tasted lovely and fresh and sour, as how real raspberries should taste like.
I like the gelato here because of how light the ice cream tastes. You don’t get that cloying, thick feeling in your throat with this gelato.
Its also nice to know that the gelateria also has flavours according to season, like Mandarin Oranges for Winter and Strawberries for Spring. There are even rumours of a porcini flavoured gelato, although I’m not sure how true that is.
The one that we went to was in Via Acaia 56, but there are also other branches in Rome.
Related link :
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Sidenote :
I noticed this lady biker while on our way to the gelateria
I WANT!!!
Sure! But are you a good boy this year? :p
hmm mandarin flavored… *drools*
Too bad there is no tamil or malay flavored … hehehe :p
Anyway, oranges are autumn season fruits. Hopefully when september comes, we could give it a try 🙂
I missed this while in Rome!
But I really really like the one at 5 Viale dei Bastioni di Michelangelo. Just outside the Vatican walls. Called the Old Bridge Gelateria! The queue is so long!
Hm, you know what I’m thinking B1? I think I do, B2! Its exploring time!
Normally I’d avoid touristic places because they are sure to be crowded especially during the summer. But it looks like a place worth investigating 🙂
Ooooohhh looks so goooooood!!!! BTW, from your experience, do the ones in SGP taste as authentic as the gelato in Italy?
2 Euro is expensive. That’s S$6 isn’t it?
The closest one in my opinion is bravissimo gelateria in Tangs Marketplace, in Orchard Road . The hazelnut gelato for example, hit home run to me 🙂
But its been a while since I’ve been there, so I’m not sure if it still tastes as good.
And yeah, 2 euro for a small cup like that is pricey! You can get more gelato for the same price anywhere else. 2 euro is about 4 singapore dollars, more or less
Oooooohhh!!! That used to be my fav – Bravissimo. But they’re no longer around 🙁 been gone for over a year already. Used to pass by Tangs a lot to run errands and I’d make a stop at Bravissimo to get a cup. Can’t do that no more unless I go to their other outlets – not sure where though 😛 maybe one in VivoCity but I’m not sure if that’s the same one.
I gelati look good, the flourish of cream (panna) did not do anything exciting for my taste buds. The gelateria that opened in cities in the UK in the 1950’a had lidded containers which you only got to see underneath, when the lid was lifted to sell some ice cream to a customer. In that way, your Roman gelateria is operating the same as the real traditional ones.
When I was in Sorrento, there was a smashing gelateria there, however, as they were in competition with a number of other emporia, their products were visible from large fridge counters, all 46 flavours and more. It brought them the customers and to be fair, I have to say, their ice cream was really, really good.
What do you mean by real traditional ones?
Delightful! Love Gelato especially in a cup! I agree two thumbs up for the lady in a dress on a vespa! Perfetto.
*peers*
I’m not sure if the lady is on a vespa, but she sure does have style!!! 😀
I was disappointed with San Crispino when we were there in March. I just didn’t feel that it lived up to the hype. Frigidarium and Giolitti were significantly better, IMHO. We’re going to be back in October and our hotel is a stone’s throw from Geleteria del Teatro north of the Piazza Navona…have you been there? Supposed to be excellent.
I bet the Sorrento geleteria was Primavera, which was incredible. Prices were good in March but I’ve heard you can pay up to 9 euro for a cone in the summer!!
You didn’t like it? I think its because of the taste maybe, its different from other gelateria because of the light taste. Giolitti has a strong, distinct flavour which makes it very popular with a lot of people.
And yes, I’ve been to Gelateria del Teatro, they have a sage gelato. The first time I saw it, I thought it was strange, but its quite lovely! Like San Crispino, its quite pricey, but its nice to try every now and then 🙂
9 euro a cone? Thats too much. Sorry, I wont pay that much for one gelato :p
Oooh looks sedap, I could eat a whole lot of it!
Gelato or ice-cream without cone won’t be complete for me too.
Too bad they don’t have local flavors such as ours.
Err … In Europe they use their own European fruit lah … :p
But if you like local flavours, you might like Island Creamery 🙂
Oh wow that looks sooooo good. *drools*
I don’t even remember where exactly I had my gelato in Rome.. I think it was somewhere near the Vatican walls.. It was funny coz I saw a lot of nuns buying the gelato.. The image is imprinted on my mind. Hehe.
The stainless steel covers of that gelato shop looks exactly like the ones of Grom. This brand claims to use natural ingredients and cost a little more than others but it’s very tasty!! :p One day I think I will buy a whole tub just for myself!