Sugar Rush: Rice Gelato at L'arte del Gelato

[Photo: Kathy Chan]

It's no secret that L'arte del Gelato is hands down, my favorite gelato shop in the city. Serious Eater Robyn can attest to the wonder of their pistachio flavor, and others to the glorious spicy chocolate and pumpkin gelato.

Myself? The flavor I most covet rarely appears in the gelato line-up. I last spotted this flavor, this magical Rice Gelato, in the summer of 2008. Early last week, I ran into the owner at the shop and pushed for a return of rice gelato. And he called Saturday morning. "I made the rice gelato!" I dropped all my work and dashed up to the shop.

One large cone with rice and pumpkin gelato, and smiles all around. The rice gelato is quite remarkable, studded with bits of rice, cooked al dente, in a creamy rich base that lets the "rice" flavor shine through. Incredible. I could eat this by the pint on a daily basis.

When I asked Sal how long he'll stock the flavor, he pointed to the tray in the gelato case. "This is all I have!"

"Will you make more?"

"Maybe, possibly..." he replies with a grin. I'm going to cross my fingers and hope that was a "yes."

L'arte del Gelato

75 Seventh Ave South, New York NY 10014 (map) 212-924-0803
lartedelgelato.com

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