5 Ways to Pair Gelato

Gelato is excellent on its own. In Italy it also pairs with all sorts of other foods. Here are five of our favorite ways to pair gelato.

1. Make a bombolone or brioche sandwich

You have had an ice cream sandwich. Now try one with gelato. In Sicilia, a traditional summertime treat is brioche con gelato: an Italian-style croissant cut in half and filled with one or two scoops of gelato, and sometimes even three. A variation uses a bombolone, a cream-filled doughnut coated in sugar. Can't decide? Try both.

2. Serve it with an edible wafer spoon

Why use a real spoon when you can eat it? A wafer spoon adds crunch and a delicate, crisp bite, and it is environmentally friendly too. Try your next gelato with Loacker's selection of crispy wafer cookies. Two treats beat one.

3. Drizzle it

It sounds strange at first, but a drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil or balsamic vinegar over a simple fior di latte gelato is divine.

• Olive oil: the subtle nuances of its fruity and peppery flavors make a wonderful backdrop for creamy gelato.
• Balsamic vinegar: stick to Traditional Balsamic Vinegar or a balsamic glaze such as Saba. Both bring more contrasting flavors that are deep, complex and sometimes even caramel-like.

4. Affogato it

Can't choose between a coffee and a sweet treat? Affogato is your answer. Pour a fresh shot of espresso over the gelato of your choice and enjoy. Follow the affogato recipe on Eataly Magazine for step-by-step instructions, or order one at the Lavazza counters in the stores.

5. Adorn it with seasonal fruit

You can't go wrong here. Follow the seasons:

• Summer: fresh peaches and blueberries
• Spring: strawberries
• Fall and winter: spiced apples or pears