Avoid the lines, eat gelato!

The weather is supposed to be absolutely splendid for the rest of the weekend, so you’re probably thinking you need a frozen dessert fix. You’re right.

We stopped in Fainting Goat gelato (1903 N. 45th) last week and had a nice chat with Alev, the daughter of the owner, Yalcin Ataman. The whole family moved over from Turkey about 10 years ago, where they owned an ice cream shop, but Fainting Goat is their first gelato shop here in the States. They’ve got big plans for additional menu items (including turkish wafer – gelato sandwiches and goat milk gelato, with local goat milk), but even in the meantime, the gelato is absolutely splendid, the perfect relief for a hot day.

Now, you may be wondering: what’s the difference between gelato and ice cream? We found this article gave us the answer:

while ice cream legally has a minimum of 10 percent fat, gelato is made with a greater proportion of whole milk to cream, so it contains more like five to seven percent fat. […] gelato is churned at a slower speed than ice cream, so it’s denser because not as much air is whipped into the mixture. (Gelato contains about 25 to 30 percent air, while ice cream can contain as much as 50 percent air) Finally, while ice cream is typically served frozen, gelato is typically stored and served at a slightly warmer temperature, so it’s not quite completely frozen.

As for that amazing, rich flavor,[…] “Since there’s not as much fat in gelato, it doesn’t coat the mouth in the same way. So the flavors are more intense.”

And what’s the other difference between ice cream and gelato? Lines. Molly Moon’s down the street is doing swift and well-deserved business, but if you find the lines frustrating, you’ve got an option. Tobin provides a comparison from a recent night:

I walked by Molly Moon’s this evening at about 9:00 PM and noticed the line outside was quite large – all the way to the Dentist office on the corner).  I’m not really surprised, being that the weather is nice and it’s a Friday.  But as I passed I wondered how the Fainting Goat was faring.  After snapping a picture I walked over to the Fainting Goat.  There were exactly two customers inside and no line. It seems Molly Moon’s has built up enough loyal customers to fend off the Fainting Goat, at least for now.  I’m sure it doesn’t hurt that local celebrity “David” was in the window seat with his daughters.

Of course, there needn’t be any “fending” necessary, as there are clearly enough hungry mouths to go around, but Dave, maybe you should set a good example and get your daughters some gelato.