Fresh Ingredients Only

Pitango Gelato is fabulous. The most delicious gelato you've ever had, seriously. Because they take it seriously!

I read about Pitango in a local newspaper over the summer. They had just opened up the location in Reston, VA which joined their Baltimore, MD location and their downtown Washington DC location. When we read about their gelato, we had to try it. So our whole family went out to Reston and waited in a very long line - major press coverage will do that to a place - and had the most fabulous gelato ever.

Pitango uses only fresh ingredients, many of which are local. Their cream and other base products come from a family farm in Pennsylvania, their strawberries are grown locally, and they use chocolate and nuts from overseas - only the best. Their philosophy is that you can taste the difference. Honestly, I can't taste it, but I can feel it. The "mouthfeel" is so different with Pitango...it's so much smoother and creamier. Even their storage system in the shops is designed to reduce crystallization so all you get is pure gelato. They also have sorbets and a couple of coffee drinks, with their signature being the Affogato - espresso plus a dollop of hazelnut or chocolate gelato.

The cup you see here was my dinner tonight. In front is the spicy chocolate gelato, and in back is the orange dark chocolate sorbet. Hiding underneath is the gianduja gelato (chocolate hazelnut). It was fabulous, especially the first two - many gelaterias have gianduja, but the spicy chocolate was really special (not too spicy, just right) and the sorbet was perfect (not too sweet).