The Friday Cyclotouriste

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My first “espresso review” since moving to Tucson is actually a “gelato review.”

Regular readers will know I adore my hand-crafted, Italian-built Guerciotti racing bike so a love of Italian gelato is to be expected.

The best gelato is differentiated from typical American ice cream by its:

1. more intense flavors;
2. velvety texture;
3. lower fat content; and,
4. small batch production methods.

You can call anything an “espresso” or a “gelato,” but the real thing requires the finest and freshest ingredients and an artisan’s touch.

So how is Allegro?

I didn’t interview the staff about their production methods because they were so busy when I dropped by, but based on taste I give them a solid 5 (out of 5) stars.

Allegro promotes its use of organic, fresh, seasonal ingredients. They offer about 20 flavors including novel ones such as (1) pineapple-basil, (2) cardamom, and (3) saffron. Their menu also includes seasonal sorbets such as (1) lemon, (2) peach, and (3) boysenberry.  All these flavors are made with fresh fruits and spices!

Btw, I see from Allegro’s facebook page they will have a fig sorbet coming up. I really dig figs so I’ll be back to try this!

If it isn’t already clear, this place is definitely worth a visit if you need a gelato fix.

Oh, there’s also indoor and outdoor seating and…wait for it…bike parking right in front.

Nathan