Italian Dreams

When it comes to the Del Ray Dreamery, I sing my song of praise over and over again. Frozen Custard and Nostalgic Treats (as owner Liz Davis taglines her exemplary "sweet shop") don't come much better than this. But I have been suffering lately, because Liz -- off on a three-week Gelato tour of Italy -- was closed. The happy twist to this bloggy little tale is that Liz came back and reopened just last week to the gusty sound of a collective local sigh. We all hurried in, of course, and found her in the back, busy with ideas. She said she was glad to be home, looked it, and was amused to report that things, in Gelatoland, are getting wacky. (Two scoops of celery, please).

"Take this home to try," she said, popping something in a bag. "No charge."
Later that night, as I was sitting down to Larry King, I remembered my mystery parcel and went to the freezer to find it. No, it wasn't gelato done with carrots or smoked cheese. It was a frozen cannoli -- ricotta custard dotted through with dark chocolate and orange peel and wrapped in a twisted crisp of pastry. The best thing I'd had in three long weeks: Liz's version, and a sweet one, of the snapshot. -- Alexa

P.S. Today, on her list of sorbetti: Bergamot orange.