Gelato! Who doesn’t love it? Why is it so much better than ice cream? 
I don’t know, but I suspect the freshness and wholeness of the ingredients have a lot to do with it.
Ms. Adventures in Italy (Sara Rosso) writes a terrific blog which features the always entertaining writing of a young MBA who moved from Silicon Valley to Italy in 2003. She’s an excellent photographer as well; her photos of food will make you drool. Check out her blog here.
One of her fun projects is the Tour del Gelato in which various bloggers in Italy and elsewhere write about the Best Gelaterias they have found.
This week’s Best Thing That We Ate is the Pompelmo Rosa (pink grapefruit) Gelato from the Frigid
arium on the Lungomare in Rapallo, which is our entry in the Tour del Gelato.
Chicco (Francesco) Barbetta and his wife Anna make and serve the best gelato I’ve ever eaten in my life. In the background of this photo of the Pompelmo Rosa cone you can see some of the fresh fruits that will soon be in Chicco’s confections. I adore the Pompelmo Rosa – it is both sweet and tart, an identity crisis that is very pleasant on the tongue. It is also not as rich as the creamy flavors. The Captain favors Malaga, which is basically rum-raisin. It’s pretty good, but to me not as good as the divine Pompelmo.
The flavors Chicco and Anna offer may vary, depending on the season, but by and large they have a stable menu. They also have gelato cakes made on the premises, and other frozen delicacies. Their little tables with gay blue tablecloths are likely to be filled on a hot, sunny afternoon.
Chicco does not just make gelato – he gives a lot of his time to the Croce Verde, driving patients to doctors’ appointments. He’s also been known to visit the local golf course where he has earned a low handicap.
I wish I could give you a recipe for today’s Best Food, but I can’t. You’ll just have to come to Rapallo and visit the Frigidarium and taste for yourself. Let us know when you’re coming – we’ll meet you there. There’s never a bad time to eat gelato.
An Ex-Expatriate 
I had the pleasure of working in the Frigidarium for Chicco, Anna and Lorenzo Barbetta for 3 years! They are an amazing family and were a joy to work for! Best time of my life!
Next time I see them I’ll mention your comment… I can believe you enjoyed it. They are lovely people and their ice cream is the BEST!
here in rapallo for 6 days may 24th and had some gelato that was not so good. i’m happy you posted the frigidarium and will try tonight or tomorrow. i also search for the best gelato throughout italy.
staying at the astoria…grazie
Hope you like the Frigidarium – it’s right there on the Lungomare near the Fort and the Polipo. We love their gelato, and I especially love the pompelmo, which you don’t always find… Buon appetito, and I hope you’re enjoying your stay here – you’re having fine weather.
Pidge, here’s a link to a recipe for lemon gelato – but to be honest, I think the Fridgedarium pompelmo doesn’t have eggs and doesn’t have much milk either… I’ll ask Chicco what he puts in it. http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/7502/lemon+gelato And here’s another for grapefruit sorbet – you might want to alter the ingredients somewhat. (!) http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/BLUEBERRY-SORBET-AND-PINK-GRAPEFRUIT-SORBET-COUPE-1701
Can you find a recipe for these fruit ice creams?
Damn the calories – I want some!
Not often actually, but maybe, in a very close future, forever!!!!
Great! Hope you get back often.
When I’m in Rapallo I always have an ice cream in Frigidarium! So tasty! So nostalgic!
Thanks, Sara. I was happy to note on the Tour that there is a Gelateria in Phoenix! Hurrah.
Oh, I could really go for some grapefruit right now….yum! I’ve added it to the list 🙂