Barcelona: high quality gelato places?

[TGullet]

Suggestions would be appreciated.

[Saborosa]

My favourite is Gelateria Caffetteria Italiana in Gracia (Pl Revolució 2, 93 210 2339, Open 5pm-1.30am Weds-Sun from Sant Medir (3 March) to Tots Sants (1 November).)

Owned and worked by mother-daughter team from Rome. There are almost always queues out the door (most nights they have a ticketing system on the go). 'Natural' ingredients and limited quantities, so it's always made fresh every day. There's a screen in the window showing videos of their ice cream making activities, and you can also now buy DVDs of momma's Italian recipes! Their dark chocolate gelato is superb - supposedly the recipe was invented by great grandfather (I think) for wife when pregnant with one of their 11 or so kids.

I also like the stuff by Cremeria Toscana (C/Muntaner 161, 93 539 3825. Open 1pm-12am Tues-Thurs, 1pm-1am Fri, 12pm-1am Sat, 12-10pm Sun, also in the Born near Santa Maria del Mar, opposite the Bubo posh patisserie). Again, Italian owned. (Apparently set up by an Italian couple when the wife couldn't find good ice cream here when she was pregnant and having ice cream cravings). Again, claim to only use 'natural' ingredients, specialising in using seasonal fruits.

So the moral seems to be, if you want to find good ice cream in Barcelona follow the trail of a pregnant Italian

But there are now loads of chic gelaterias that have opened recently. Another decent one that has branches in Gracia and the Born is Tomo II. And I've heard high praise of the one on C/Llibreteria in Barri Gotic.

Just try and avoid anything with waffles, lurid colours and bits of the ingredient stuck on the top (though i think cremeria toscana has started doing this, which has put me off them a bit).

[MoGa]

Has Antiu Xixona opened up a branch in Barcelona yet?

The first ice cream parlour using this name opened in Alicante nearly 2 years ago, and according to this article:

http://www.mundofranquicia.com/mfc/noticia...hp?notinum=8921

there are plans to open more in other parts of the country.

Antiu Xixona (Which means 'old Jijona') is a brand name of la Asociación de Artesanos del Helado and is reserved for thieir premium products (the turrones used are first rate), unfortunately, I can't find any information at all in their website: http://www.heladosalacant.com/

Here's a youtube clip of their Alicantinian store

(they actually have two of these revolving display cases)

My last visit was short so I only got to try the yema tostada, I'm looking forward to sampling lots of other flavours.

[Saborosa]

Has Antiu Xixona opened up a branch in Barcelona yet?

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It's not ringing any bells. But there are a few turron-helado places around the city. Two famous ones are Planelles-Donat at Portal de l'Ángel, 7 just down from Pl Catalunya, planellesdonat.com/eng/index.php and Sirvent on C/Parlament 56 near the Sant Antoni market. Also try their horchata (tiger nut milk drink).

[mielimato]

My favourite is Gelateria Caffetteria Italiana in Gracia (Pl Revolució 2, 93 210 2339, Open 5pm-1.30am Weds-Sun from Sant Medir (3 March) to Tots Sants (1 November).)

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My favorite place is also Gelateria Caffeteria Italiana! Their fruit flavored ice-creams are especially good: melon, peach, figs, strawberry, etc. Their dark chocolate ice-cream is also declicious. Nothing is too sweet. And everything tastes good and natural.

The one sad thing about this place is that the older Italian ladies are no longer there. I have not seen them for months. Now it is just two hot mamacita serving ice-cream. I hope the Italian ladies come back soon.

Edited June 16, 2008 by mielimato (log)

[Saborosa]

My favourite is Gelateria Caffetteria Italiana in Gracia (Pl Revolució 2, 93 210 2339, Open 5pm-1.30am Weds-Sun from Sant Medir (3 March) to Tots Sants (1 November).)

←

My favorite place is also Gelateria Caffeteria Italiana! Their fruit flavored ice-creams are especially good: melon, peach, figs, strawberry, etc. Their dark chocolate ice-cream is also declicious. Nothing is too sweet. And everything tastes good and natural.

The one sad thing about this place is that the older Italian ladies are no longer there. I have not seen them for months. Now it is just two hot mamacita serving ice-cream. I hope the Italian ladies come back soon.

←

That's interesting. I remember at the end of their season last year they had a sign up saying en traspaso, which basically means lease for sale, so I was severely worried and even contemplated taking it over! But I was relieved when I saw the same ladies opening up again this year. The mother was certainly there when I went a while ago - not sure how long ago that was, might have been a couple of months. It's been too cold and wet for ice cream lately!

So maybe they've handed over to new owners? But if you haven't noticed any change in the ice cream that's a good sign. I'll try and check it out soon now the sun's reappeared.