REVIEW: Ciao Bella Key Lime Graham Gelato

Although I had seen cartons of Ciao Bella gelato before, it wasn’t until I discovered their Gelato Squares that I became really interested. Their Sea Salt Caramel, Belgian Chocolate S’mores and Key Lime Graham squares had all been among the best ice cream sandwiches I’d ever had, so when I finally found their Key Lime Graham flavor in a pint, I took full advantage. Most of their offerings seemed to be unexciting sorbets and fruity gelatos, but I had already discovered the deliciousness of their graham infused key lime base sandwiched between two soft wafers and was ready to taste even more without the accompanying cookies.

This super premium gelato contains a substantial 270 calories per serving; even more than the gelato squares sharing the same flavor. The first layer of Key Lime Graham is light in color and shows off plenty of the graham cracker flecks inside. The graham crackers haven’t been tossed in as a mix-in, or even a swirl, but have been blended directly into the Key Lime gelato to build on both the taste and texture. Even without an extended thaw time to allow the gelato to soften, Ciao Bella’s Key Lime Graham scoops out with ease. The velvety feel as I pull my metal scoop through the first few inches has me reminiscing on my last experience with this stuff.

Each bite starts out smooth and sweet before slowly incorporating that signature sourness provided by the key limes. The graham cracker built into every spoonful not only adds an interesting texture, but also gives enough flavoring to sway the overall taste towards key lime pie. Even though this doesn’t state to be an interpretation of key lime pie, the graham cracker aspect impersonates the crust particularly well. The result is a well-balanced taste with enough texture to keep your taste buds occupied for multiple servings in a sitting. While I still prefer the Gelato Squares over the base only offering, Ciao Bella does key lime much better than most.

Where I Found It: Ingles Markets
Grade: B

NEWS: Huffington Post Taste Names Their Editor's Picks For Best Summer Ice Cream Flavors Of 2013

HuffPost Taste recently released their Best Summer Ice Cream Flavors of 2013. In the article, Kristen Aiken writes, “We're here to instill some confidence in your ice cream selections this summer. Ever loyal to our dear readers, we bestowed upon ourselves the burdensome task of tasting approximately 45 flavors of the more unconventional ice creams on the market. Though we have included a pint of Ben & Jerry's in our selection, we tried to stay away from the typical brands you see every day at the supermarket, instead leaning toward small-batch, artisanal craftsmen who really know their stuff.”

Here are the 10 that made the cut, some of which I've reviewed:

• Steve's Cold-Brewed Cinnamon Coffee
• Snoqualmie Honey Cinnamon Custard
• Jeni's Juniper & Lemon Curd
• Steve's Bklyn Blackout
• Graeter's Summer Peach Ice Cream
• Ciao Bella Pistachio Gelato
• Ben & Jerry's Pina Colada
• Talenti Southern Butter Pecan
• Salt & Straw Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper
• Jeni's The Buckeye State

The whole article can be read by clicking on this link.

REVIEW: Ciao Bella Belgian Chocolate S'mores Gelato Squares

Ever since I was turned on to Ciao Bella Gelato by their Sea Salt Caramel and Key Lime Graham Gelato Squares, I’ve been looking for the opportunity to further explore some of their flavors. From that point on, I’ve only been able to find their various sorbets and I just couldn’t bring myself to purchase any of those. Earlier today though, I ran across a new addition to the Ciao Bella line of Gelato Squares: S’mores. They brag about their most recent release by saying, “Temptingly creamy and nestled between two wafers – this chef inspired blend of Belgian chocolate gelato with chocolate and marshmallow swirls is sure to seduce your taste buds.” I quickly thrust open the door, grabbed the last remaining box and headed to the cashier.

The blend of Belgian chocolate s’mores gelato and graham cracker squares comes in a box of four and come in at 250 calories each; about the same as one serving of super-premium ice cream. I tore off the white plastic wrapper and removed the square. The golden graham crackers sandwiching the chocolate gelato give these gelato squares a very similar look to the actual campfire snack. The soft wafers are full of graham cracker flavoring, but lacked the initial crunch of the real deal. The gelato inside is rich and plenty dense enough to properly show off the full-bodied flavors of the Belgian chocolate.

The taste of the s’mores gelato only improved as I reached the two types of swirls concentrated towards the center. The chocolate swirl was darker than the base gelato and intensified the richness, while the marshmallow added a fluffy texture and even more sugar. For a frozen dessert, the bites containing all of the different ingredients are awfully close to the flavors found in the actual treat. If you’re a fan of this particular combination, you’ll want to get your hands on a box of these.

Where I Found It: Earth Fare
Grade: A

REVIEW: Ciao Bella Key Lime Graham Gelato Squares

Ice creams based on the key lime pie concept continuously seem to come up short on this blog. Whether it’s the supreme tartness of this lime or the lack of substantial pie crust, I’m usually left with both a puckered face and a below average product. The decision to buy some of the Sea Salt Caramel Gelato Squares from Ciao Bella had been easy, but a buy one get one free offer also allowed me the opportunity to try their Key Lime Graham versions. This Italian reincarnation of the South Florida staple is made up of key lime graham gelato and graham cracker squares. The promise of real lime juice printed on the box may excite some, but all I can think of is the sourness associated with the bright green fruit.

The key lime versions of their gelato squares contain the same 250 calories that the Sea Salt Caramel variations did, however I remain skeptical that they can pack the same punch. Only after I remove the sandwich from the white wrapper do I realize that the key lime graham gelato actually has tiny bits of graham cracker blended right in. My knife cuts through the soft graham cracker crust easily, but requires some extra effort to push through the lightly shaded gelato inside. Just as the sea salt caramel base had turned out to be, the key lime graham filling is dense and takes its time before breaking down. As the gelato begins to melt in my mouth, Ciao Bella has managed to tame the tartness better than most. This is easy to eat, just sweet enough, and the graham cracker crumbs give the gelato a great texture.

The graham cracker squares surrounding the gelato have the same soft, chewy consistency as the Sea Salt Caramel chocolate squares and add another element of sweetness to combat the slight sourness of the gelato. The very nature of an ice cream sandwich allows the two cookies on either side to become incorporated into every bite; a strategy that is much needed when using a tart filling like this one. The result is a frozen dessert that encapsulates everything people love about key lime pie without become overwhelming to your taste buds. Although these aren’t quite as addictive as the Sea Salt Caramel Gelato Squares, the fact that these received only a slightly above average overall grade is impressive considering Key Lime is involved.

Where I Found It: Harris Teeter
Grade: B

REVIEW: Ciao Bella Sea Salt Caramel Gelato Squares

Ice cream may be the main focus of this blog, but I’m not stranger to gelato either. Companies like Talenti have headed the supermarket movement for the Italian-inspired dessert, however others have also been making an appearance in freezers as of late. Despite the fact that they started making gelato way back in 1983, I’ve only recently started seeing Ciao Bella’s products show up in stores around me. According to them, “Ciao Bella’s indulgent collection of gelato and sorbet creates moments of happiness everywhere with an unparalleled, incredibly unique dessert experience. We simply rely on a chef inspired blend of pure, naturally intense ingredients and a passion for evoking pleasure and delight in every frozen bite.” Although most of their offerings are contained inside a carton, I decided to check out their Sea Salt Caramel Gelato Squares to serve as my first taste from this company that started in New York's Little Italy.

These Italian ice cream sandwiches are made with sea salt caramel gelato, caramel and chocolate swirls, chocolate squares and contain a reasonable 250 calories each. The pink and white wrapper tears away easily to reveal the chocolate wafers sitting on the top and bottom of the beige, sea salt caramel gelato. Only after slicing the squares into smaller sections do the chocolate and caramel swirls become visible. The base gelato has a dense, super-premium consistency and provides a great balance of sweetness with just a touch of salt to further bring out the buttery flavors of the caramel. Both of the swirls make a beautiful striped design inside the squares and add complimentary tastes and textures to the sea salt caramel gelato.

The chocolate and caramel sauces get pretty concentrated in some areas; so much so that they would occasionally string upwards as I pulled off a piece. The petite swirls give a more intense flavoring than the gelato or the wafers and enhance the overall experience. The large chocolate wafers sandwiching the other ingredients are soft and collapse easily without much effort. This element gives each bite a rich, chocolate-filled finish that exemplifies exactly why sea salt caramel and cocoa play so well together. Ciao Bella’s Sea Salt Caramel Gelato Squares have me wondering exactly why I’ve put off trying this brand for so long.

Where I Found It: Harris Teeter
Grade: A