Move over, summer diet plans. Our area has more than enough tantalizing options to woo us out of the sun and into the arms of a frosty cone or cup this time of year. The options range from nitro-frozen to “super-premium” scoops that break the scale on creaminess. Prefer a different take on frozen? There’s also gelato, custard and sorbet (or sorbetto). Here’s where to head when the midsummer cravings strike.
Part living-room-like lounge and part co-working space, this gelato-making café also turns into a mood-lit stage for live music and karaoke on Thursday nights. The Italian approach to ice cream uses more milk, less cream and fewer, if any, eggs, churning the ingredients slowly to produce a denser scoop in a variety of brightly hued flavors. Plus, it’s harder to call it “indulging” when you’re eating it with a small spoon from a small cup.
Beyond sweets, empanadas and Stumptown Coffee Roasters’ brews round out the offerings and add to the day-or-night vibe at this café, which is open until 10:30 p.m. during the week and 11:30 p.m. on weekends.
2719 Wilson Blvd., Arlington; gelatoarlingtonva.wixsite.com/boccato
The Del Ray neighborhood nearly lost this gem when longtime owner Liz Davis announced she didn’t plan to reopen it for the season in 2017. But, after finding a buyer to take over the beloved local business, the frozen custard will live on, along with citrus-infused sorbets and other “nostalgic treats.” While peaches are in season, try a scoop of the local peach sorbet with homemade peach cobbler. Or stick with the custard, which gets its creaminess from egg yolks and tastes like a cross between gelato and soft-serve ice cream. Lactose-free or vegan visitors will be equally pleased with the shop’s dozens of sorbet flavors made with fruit, herbs, water and sugar. And, true to Del Ray’s dog-friendly vibe, there are also “puppy pops” for the furry ones.
2310 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria; thedairygodmother.com