Sicilian cuisine is the style of cooking on the island of Sicily. It shows traces of all cultures that have existed on the island of Sicily over the last two millennia. Although its cuisine has much in common with Italian cuisine, Sicilian food also has Greek, Spanish, French and Arab influences.
Ice cream is a frozen dessert, typically made from milk or cream and flavoured with a sweetener, either sugar or an alternative, and a spice, such as cocoa or vanilla, or with fruit such as strawberries or peaches. It can also be made by whisking a flavored cream base and liquid nitrogen together. Food coloring is sometimes added, in addition to stabilizers. The mixture is cooled below the freezing point of water and stirred to incorporate air spaces and to prevent detectable ice crystals from forming. The result is a smooth, semi-solid foam that is solid at very low temperatures. It becomes more malleable as its temperature increases.
Gelato is the common word in Italian for all kinds of ice cream. In English, it specifically refers to a frozen dessert of Italian origin. Artisanal gelato in Italy generally contains 6%–9% butterfat, which is lower than other styles of frozen dessert. Gelato typically contains 35% air and more flavoring than other kinds of frozen desserts, giving it a density and richness that distinguishes it from other ice creams.
Granita is a semi-frozen dessert made from sugar, water and various flavorings. Originally from Sicily, it is available throughout Italy in varying forms. It is related to sorbet and Italian ice; however, in most of Sicily, it has a smoother, more crystalline texture. Food writer Jeffrey Steingarten says that "the desired texture seems to vary from city to city" on the island; on the west coast and in Palermo, it is at its chunkiest, and in the east, it is nearly as smooth as sorbet. This is largely the result of different freezing techniques: the smoother types are produced in a gelato machine, while the coarser varieties are frozen with only occasional agitation, then scraped or shaved to produce separated crystals. Although its texture varies from coarse to smooth, it is always different from that of ice cream, which is creamier, and from that of sorbet, which is more compact; this makes granita distinct and unique.
An ice cream sandwich is a frozen dessert consisting of ice cream between two biscuits, skins, wafers, or cookies. The ingredients are different around the world, with Ireland using wafers, and North America using chocolate cookies.
Ice cream parlors or ice cream parlours are places that sell ice cream, gelato, sorbet, and/or frozen yogurt to consumers. Ice cream is typically sold as regular ice cream, and/or soft serve, which is usually dispensed by a machine with a limited number of flavors. Ice cream parlors generally offer a number of flavors and items. Parlors often serve ice cream and other frozen desserts in cones, cups or dishes, the latter two to be eaten with a spoon. Some ice cream parlors prepare ice cream desserts such as sundaes or milkshakes, or even a blend.
Sorbet is a frozen dessert made using ice combined with fruit juice, fruit purée, or other ingredients, such as wine, liqueur, or honey. Generally, sorbets do not contain dairy products, while sherbets do.
Mövenpick Ice Cream is a brand of ice cream of Swiss origin produced by Nestlé, and now is the new company called Froneri since 2016 in joint-venture with Nestlé and R&R Ice Cream.
Ciao Bella Gelato Company is a frozen dessert company specializing in gelatos and sorbets. Also known as "Ciao Bella", the company began in 1983 in a kitchen in New York City's Little Italy. Traditional recipes from Torino were used. Ciao Bella was formerly owned by Charlie Apt and F.W. Pearce. In 2018, the company was acquired by High Road Craft Ice Cream, a premium ice cream company.
Procopio Cutò, also known as Francesco Procopio Cutò, Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli, or François Procope was a chef from Sicily. Billing himself as a modern Procopius, he founded in 1686 what has become the oldest extant café in Paris, Café Procope. It became the first literary coffeehouse in Paris. For over 200 years the cafe-restaurant attracted notables in the world of arts, politics, and literature.
Vanilla is frequently used to flavor ice cream, especially in North America, Asia, and Europe. Vanilla ice cream, like other flavors of ice cream, was originally created by cooling a mixture made of cream, sugar, and vanilla above a container of ice and salt. The type of vanilla used to flavor ice cream varies by location. In North America and Europe consumers are interested in a more prominent, smoky flavor, while in Ireland, a more anise-like flavor is desired. To create the smooth consistency of ice cream, the mixture has to be stirred occasionally and then returned to the container of ice and salt to continue the solidification process. According to Iced: 180 Very Cool Concoctions, many people often consider vanilla to be the "default" or "plain" flavor of ice cream.
Morelli's Gelato is a producer and retailer of ice cream. The company was founded in 1907 by Giuseppe Morelli. Initially he sold ice cream from a bicycle with his son Mario. As the business grew, an ice cream van was used. In 1932, an ice cream parlour was opened on the seafront of the seaside resort of Broadstairs.
Gelato Italia is a British company producing high-end Italian frozen desserts. Their factory is based in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. Gelato Italia operate nationally in the UK with ice cream vans, kiosks and parlours;
Coolhaus is an American ice cream company based in Los Angeles, California, founded in 2009 by two women named Natasha Case and Freya Estreller. Coolhaus is an artisan ice cream brand known for combining Food and Architecture. The name Coolhaus, is in the German language, and when translated into English it is Coolhouse.
Talenti is an American brand of gelato and sorbet produced by Unilever. Talenti is named after Bernardo Buontalenti, who is credited with inventing gelato.
Bocca di Lupo is a small Italian restaurant on Archer Street in London's Soho district which was rated the best London restaurant in Time Out magazine's 2009 listing, and won the "Best Wine List" award in Tatler magazine's 2013 restaurant awards, as well as a Michelin Guide "Bib Gourmand" award. The Time Out award was attributed partly to the restaurant's bargain prices, which increased significantly as its popularity grew. Bocca di Lupo serves cuisine from a variety of Italian regions, with each dish's origin labelled on the menu.
Pappagallo is a Finnish brand of Italian ice cream and sorbet owned by the company Green Taste Oy. The products are mostly made by hand according to traditional Italian recipes. The products are produced in Vantaa. Pappagallo ice cream is gelato-style milk ice cream, containing 8 percent fat and about 24 percent sugar. The milk-free sorbet contains less than 1 percent fat and about 29 percent sugar.
