Gelato that Hits the Sweet Spot

I don’t generally get all excited about individual gelato shops, but BuonGusto in Pienza is an exception. Run by Chef Nicola, here is an example of a high-quality gelateria. Tourist-trap places come with countless open bins of brightly colored gelato piled high. In a serious gelateria, there are only a few flavors, the colors are muted, and the bins come with lids. Nicola was all excited about his artichoke-and-ginger gelato and his salted-caramel variety. And now, so am I. La vita è bella…life is good! Have you found a favorite gelateria in your travels?

Comments

4 Replies to “Gelato that Hits the Sweet Spot”

  1. Hi Rick,
    I love following you and learning about the people and places you visit. My first European trip in 1992 was done with you guidebook. I was hooked on travel after that trip and have made many more trips since. In fact it was such a significant experience I created a study abroad course for my students at the University of Wisconsin Stout so my students could experience the joys of travel like I did in 1992. I leave Thursday with 13 students, one of which has never been on a plane before! I would love to know your schedule through June 10th so that we can perhaps say hello. If you do not want to share you itinerary I understand.

    Keep up the great work and travel safe.

    Regards,
    Robert

  2. Of course, here in the Bay Area we don’t have to travel to find the best gelato in the New World, and like your spot there in Pienza, the shops here are all run by former chefs, just that ours are alumnae of Chez Panisse.

    There in Europe, though, I once had an uncanny experience at a family-run gelateria in the old town of Lyon — I was looking at the tubs, and one in particular caught my eye for its unctuous, nearly concupiscent color and texture — and the flavor lived up to the look. It was fresh apricot from local orchards. When I got back to my hotel, the night-desk clerk and I were chatting, and I said that I had stopped at this particular shop, and she, unbidden-I swear, said that she loved that place and her favorite flavor there was the apricot. At first I thought it was a trick, that maybe she had gotten a cell phone call from the shop, but when I realized how low that probability was, I took it for a magical travel moment.
    The conversation really had an “Is this your card?” street magic quality — there were dozens of flavors and they all looked good. How did we both land on apricot?

  3. We were there just yesterday! The strawberry rosemary gelato was fresh, sweet, refreshing, delicious.

    Welcome back to Pienza, Rick! You helped us find our way here as travelers back in 2005, and now we live here. We think it is paradise–every day filled with beauty, panoramic vistas, delicious food, friendly people. Thank you for adding the Val d’Orcia Countryside Sights and Drives to your guide book. Those pages will give precious (and stunningly beautiful) memories to your readers who follow the itinerary–it’s perfect and not to be missed.

  4. Just 2 weeks ago, while staying at La Casine di Castello, run by Carlo and Isabella Moricciani, we found BuonGusto on our last evening in the area. It was the most delicious gelato we had on our entire trip, We thought we had explored the town, until the last evening when we expanded our stroll while waiting to go to dinner. An unexplored area of the town opened up for us. BuonGusto’s delicious gelato became our antipasto that evening!

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