Gelateria Gusto Antico - (Bologna, Italy)

Returning to Bologna wasn’t a difficult decision.   Although it has very little fine dining and there is only 1 Michelin starred restaurant in the city,  it oozes class and people here are both friendlier on the whole as well as having a deeply educated culture.  It was also a city of European Capital of Culture during 2000.   

 

 

Gelato Shop -
I was going to Rome eventually but wanted some Italian ice cream.  The gelati here looked naturally colored and textured when I walked by,  which is something I really watch out for.
The prettier they look,  the faker they can be when you order Gelato in Italy..

 

 

 

Seasonal and Local ingredients -

 

 

 

Fried Bombolono doughnut with Buffalo Cheese Gelato (white),
and Croccantino all Amarena (red).
The buffalo gelato was thick and milky, gliding down slowly to coat your throat,  so ridiculously good.  The nougat and cherries gelato was also fruity enough,  helping to cut down on the grease of the doughnut sandwich.  Which was fried well itself.  So addictive this combo.   ~  10/10

 

 

 

 

They use Quality Italian Ingredients here -
With pistacchios and huge lemons from down further South,  also nuts from the North,  and cheeses and milk from surrounding regions.    Dying to have another one of this exact same doughnut ice cream sandwich right now!

 

 

 

 

Price:   Euro 61,00 including Wines and Water
Ease of Access:  2/5
Food:  ♕♕♕♕♕ 1/2

Address: Via Indipendenza,  Bologna,  Italy

Neuhaus Chocolatier - (Brussels)

 Call me a bit biased as is expectable from a real food snob :@ ,  but on average I found Belgian chocolates to be slightly cloyingly-sweet for personal liking compared to say France, Italy, Spain or Switzerland offerings.   I haven’t eaten them all mind you but so far there are only notable exceptions such as Pierre Marcolini who makes some totally unsweetened chocolate items as a contrast,  and  also Belgium based Callebaut also manufactures sophisticated dark cooking chocolates which proves to be as good as their French artisanal counterparts.   Neuhaus is a brand that I thought I was familiar with and really liked in the past – their pralines are decent plus they are one of the smoothest and neatest looking chocolates from Belgium apart from Godiva.  Nowadays I find them too sweet to my liking though,  how life has evolved recently!

 

 

Truffe Chocolates -
Truffe = Chocolate Truffles.  These ones are more fresher and rustic looking than the ones you find in their pre-packed Neuhaus boxes you purchase at the Airport shops.   Visiting one of their actual stores in Brussels,  you can definitely detect an advantage in being able to source their more fresher products on the spot.

 

 

I am still Skeptical at this point -
As I have mentioned above,  I used to really like their products here but over the years they seemed to have diminished in popularity somehow.   They seem more and more commercialized which is fine if they remain good (such as Valrhona) but to me they seem very sugary and artificially smooth nowadays.  

 

 

Above: Speculoos Truffle
Bottom:  Caramel Truffle  -
Both pieces carried a really crispy chocolate shell albeit a little hard.  The insides of both carried bursts of really intense flavours of Salted Caramel or the spicy Wafer like Speculoos spread.   I can’t pinpoint it exactly but although these aren’t exactly ‘truffles’ in texture as they are simply too hard on the outer casing,  somehow I did like this variation.   ~  8/10

 

 

 

Suxk the King of Candy -
There’s so many Chocolatier shops in Belgium.  Sometimes you will discover a hilarious side to the story behind it all.. such as this shop called Suxk the King of Candy lol!   I think it is unfair to make a sweeping statement about Neuhaus or Belgian chocolates as they can be quite smooth and occasionally playing with different flavours and textures.  I just wished they could be more chocolaty and less about sugariness!

 

 

Price:   Euro 5,00
Ease of Access:  3/5
Food:  ♕♕♕♕

Address:  Rue au Beurre,  Grand Place, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

Gelateria Gamberini - (Bologna, Italy)

  This oddly colored Gelato shop doesn’t look overly appealing from externally,  the truth be told,  but it is actually part of the famous Gamberini group which is found a few doors down from here.   Using Steel Canisters and accurate Temperature Control over the various Gelati and Tutto Frutti sorbets,   this seems to be a trendy thing nowadays in new age Gelato shops.   It can also be found here at Di San Crispino. 

 

 

Awful,  awful lighting..

 

A variety of Pastries and Gelati and even toppings on offer..

 

There are some ice cream sandwiches options,  also available.  Or the Cassate or Tartufi,  or even Millefoglie and Sacher options!   Interesting… 






Cioccolato,   Fichi e Noci -
It was obvious to me that this is not purely artisanal gelati just going by color alone,  but the taste was definitely very appealing.  The Chocolate flavour was rich but smooth,  but also carried a nice milky taste in the background.   It was the Walnut and Fig gelato which won my heart however.  It was sweet yet nutty at the same time,  a very good combo.  Lovely flavours and texture!   ~  8.5/10

Price:   €4,00 
Dessert:  ♕♕♕♕♕

Address: Via Ugo Bassi, 12 - 40100 - Bologna

Terzi Caffe - (Bologna, Italy)

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  This is a staggeringly good & famous Bologna caffé  (Italian for café) which I was really impressed enough to give it a full score rating.    The only other one being Prufrock Coffee (London).   Terzi Caffe is a bar, Caffe and Tea shop and ironically markets itself as selling  ‘commercial’ coffee,  when its far from being one.    Artisanal self roasted Single Origin beans as well as carefully crafted House Blends from 100% Arabica beans to mixed varietals can be ordered here.  This Northern Italian coffee’s style is so 3rd Wave Coffee and entirely a different story from the rustic and bold versions down South in Rome,  the most famous ones I drank there out of the dozens or so -  being the much talked about  Sant’ Eustachio,  Parana Caffé  &  Caffé Tazza D’Oro !     

Walked Right Past and missed the narrow doorway,
lucky I back tracked!





A few Signature Drinks,
but not very commercialised nor expensive,
unlike the overly commercial and touristy Antico Caffè Greco in Rome,
which I refused to visit !

A few Pastries and Chestnut offerings..

 

 

It gets very Crowded in this narrow but cosy space.
And people drink and eat standing at the bar,
because unlike Starbucks,  the best caffe’s in Italy,
don’t have any seats !  Check the links of the best ones above!

 

 

Espresso, 
With a few optional Flowery honey or a Custard coloured Syrup for adding into it -
This Espresso was fairly bright in fruitiness and also surprisingly had a medium body to it, reminding me of the coffee’s with clarity drank in many London Cafes!  A very winey espresso with a tinge of jasmine aroma.  Very lovely and balanced.   They do also carry heavier blends here for those who want a stronger Southern style coffee or try their Single Origins.    ~  
10/10


 

 

Kakikafé -  Caffé, Spuma Fredda di Cachi   €2,70
An espresso based Signature drink,  added with an espuma of Persimmon foam.
this was like oh-my-gawd!    It is so well balanced and the ripe sweetness and unique flavours of persimmon really made this a winner!   ~  
10/10

Serious Set Up for a Caffe in Italy,
This is just so different from the commercial stuff found elsewhere,
it’s a Coffee Lover’s heaven!

 

A Cabinet with a few Sellable batches of Beans -
Why… didn’t I buy any of these?  Well I should have,  but it wasn’t the blend itself which intrigued me, as a similar styled blend can be found in 18 Grams in HK.   What’s more impressive here was the way its set up and their creative Signature Drinks as well as the add on components on offer -  which makes this such an impressive European Style Caffe !!


 

 

Price:  €5 Per Person
Coffee: ♕♕♕♕♕♕

Address: Via Oberdan, 10/d. Bologna, Emilia Romagna
Ph: 051 23 64 70

Gamberini 1907 - (Bologna, Italy)

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  Il Cafè Pasticceria Gamberini 1907 is supposed to be famous in Bologna.   That’s what they all say anyway on a daily basis – same applies everywhere else!   Famous for what,  you might legitimately ask me?   Well, do I look like an Italian to you? : )   If the locals say I should follow their guidance & venture in to try, I’ll happily oblige.   Especially this being my 1st time here in this city!     But at the end of the day being Authentic is not necessarily a guarantee,  as the world constantly evolves.    Gamberini is one of the rare encounters which gave me enough satisfaction from their high dessert quality as well as the equal disappointment from their coffee quality.   My mind still remains divided to this day as I write,  as I do believe Dessert and Coffee should go hand-in-hand with one another.   And this has already taken into consideration the generally far higher coffee quality to be found here within Bologna than elsewhere in other parts of Europe!

 

The Dessert Selections are very tempting.. 
I love sweets.  I wish I could gobble down them all..

 

More Sweets and La mignon selections ..

 

Wait, there’s still more La mignon selections! 

 

 

 

Barista -
He is both the Bar Tender and the Coffee Maker.
That’s what the original Barista term means, apparently..

 

Un Caffe -
A Single Espresso,  was the darkest and broodiest & most bitter cup I remembered tasting up North here.  It’s even more bitter than most of the ones I drank in Rome and is completely the opposite of every other cup of coffee I had within Bologna, or I could safely claim it as the worst!   This would make Southern Italians cringe even with sugar added.  
Do I sound ‘bitter’  towards this cup lol?  You bet!  Disappointing   ~   3/10

 

 

Rum Baba -
This on the other hand,  was completely spot on and exactly what I’d remembered it to be like, whether it be the French traditional or Italian adaptations.   The spongy cake had the correct sporous and cake-like texture,  the amount of Rum and Syrup coating was perfectly juggled.  I’m going to apologise first  - this is and has probably always been what a Rum Baba really ought to taste like from the beginning.   Except I am lost for words to describe and explain ‘technically’ how or why this to be the case.   I wish I could put it into words!   8  1/2 Otto e Mezzo’s elegant version came close, but still wasn’t the real deal.  The crustily hard and very dry version served at Grand Hyatt Steakhouse in comparison was completely laughable & totally irrelevant to compare.  The now defunct GVSTO’s version came close,  still but lacked the right flavours.   I still miss this Rum Baba to this day, it was that good…  ~   10/10

 

 

Nice Pasticceria -
If only they could fix up the obviously Southern Italian style coffee,
which is more hardcore than down South itself !

Price:   €4,00  (Bargain)
Dessert:  ♕♕♕♕♕
Coffee: ♕♕

Address: Via Ugo Bassi, 12 - 40121 - Bologna
Tel.: 051 2960467

Montegrappa da Nello - (Bologna, Italy)

 

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  Emilia–Romagna in Northern Italy is on the whole most famous for their cheeses, parma ham and mortadella selections, etc,  which can now be bought from all over the world.  Nevertheless I decided to get a trial of these local produce,  over @ S-Wine Bar.   In the more central food capital city of Bologna and close-by Modena,  Tagliatelle al Ragu is probably their most well known regional dish.   Spaghetti Bolognese is fairly different to this traditional ‘Bolognese’ version -  first of all, spaghetti itself wasn’t even used in Bologna, but was invented way down south in Sicily and Napoli.   So what’s with the irrelevant reference of this pasta dish to Bolognese, when there is nothing very Bolognese about it?  Plus it is actually a Ragu,  not a sauce!     It’s certainly an international misnomer and blame it on the new world invention of the Spag Bol !

 

Recommended by some Bologna locals -
Diana around the corner from here is also famous for Tagliatelle al Ragu,
but unfortunately closed during my time of visit..

 

A lot of local dishes -

 

Down Stairs -
Looking like an underground tavern ..

Tenuta Amalia Sangiovese -  €5,0 for Half Bottle
A local wine,  goes well with the pasta below..!

 

Some Bread and Crispy Bread Sticks -
Not bad and they’re fun to eat or dip into the Monini Olive Oil






Tagliatelle al Ragu €10,0 -
Said to use both Beef and Pork,  this was not overly minced.  It doesn’t have much ‘tomato’ taste either unlike new world Bolognese sauce,  and is textured like a thick ragu and quite dry.
Home Made Pasta was cooked unbelievably perfect in texture.   Add on some shavings of locally famous Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.    The only complaint I have is that this ragu doesn’t have enough herbs or depth of taste to me.   ~   8/10

 

Real Bologna style Ragu -
Easy to say..  but not as easy to replicate.
Even in Bologna, apparently there are quite a few styles!

 

 

So many visitors -
Food was pretty good rather than out of this world, 
but one of the best versions I’ve tried.

 

 

 

Price:   €18,00 including Bread and Wine
Food:  ♕♕♕♕♕

Opening Hours:
Closed on Mondays.
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays & Mondays in July.
Closed in August.

Address:  Via Monte Grappa, 2, Bologna, Italy 051-236331.
Ph: 051 236331

Il Bar di Eataly, Alti Cibi - (Bologna, Italy)

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  Eataly,  short for Eat–Italy, is a high end Italian grocery store originating in Turin and has recently expanded this empire to reach New York city,  and over there it’s even being looked after by famous Italian Celebrity Chef Mario Batali.    This particular outlet in Bologna has a Caffé as well as a Library,  and also a small bakery counter!   Other outposts might also carry a Restaurant or Osteria side.    For me, I was more interested in receiving my daily dose of Italian Coffee!

A Library with Caffé/Grocery Concept at this particular store-
I like this approach !





Guatemala Coffee -
I was a bit taken aback to see Eataly’s coffees here consisting of three types of blend selections.
They start with a Robusta boosted blend aka Southern Italy style,  a Middle binding blend made of half Artisanal Blend and half generic Arabica bean.   Their finest offering is described below.






Huehuetango from San Pedro Necta,  Guatemala   €1,0 -
Artisanal Caffé’s which promote Single Origin beans are hard to find in Italy, so Eataly definitely deserves praise for its effort.    Like Guatemala Antigua,  this Huehuetango from San Pedro Necta is also a Super Hard Bean but slightly more delicate in taste.   Prized for their quality beans at an attitude upwards of 1700-2000m in the hills,  this carried a mid-bodied base with a balanced stone-fruit acidity but little of the smokiness trait from Volcanic soil.   The Crema was surprisingly quite thin despite the Volume and the final Extraction time to be visually spot on.   Identifiably with traits of lighter roasted NORTHERN ITALY coffee and Terroir Based origin,  much closer to 3rd Wave,  this was a winner and unlike every single coffee I’ve drank in Rome.    !!    ~     8/10






Right Opposite Eataly, a branch of the famous Taburini,
Famous in both Italy and the US thanks again to Mario Batali and Molto Mario again.
Mostly selling pre-made stuff like pasta and cured meat off the shelf.   I think I’ll pass…

 

Price:   €1,0   (Cheap again.  But Top Quality!  Amazing.)
Food:  ♕♕♕♕♕

Address:  Via degli Orefici, 19, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Ph: 390510952820