7.11.2008

Adventure 23: Paciugo

Paciugo Italian Gelato Renaissance (website)
341 State St.
3 Adjectives: Chic, comfy, adventurous.
Price: gelato (4-7)
Authenticity:
Atmosphere:
Overall:
Veganness:
Other Opinions: thedailypage, badgerherald, thedailypage, ...
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This place is really as good as it sounds, Italian Renaissance and all.

If you have not had the opportunity to try out one of the best frozen sweet treats ever invented, I urge you to go have some gelato. Paciugo (puh-CHEW-go) serves gelato that is both more flavorful (there have been over 50 flavors I've seen at Paciugo) and less fattening (70% less fat) than its sister, ice cream. To achieve ice cream smooth-y perfection, the gelato is frozen at a lower temperature than conventional ice cream and therefore something that you can not really get at the supermarket.

A visit to Paciugo never disappoints. The servers are really nice and you can try as many of the twenty-ish flavors they have laid out at the counter. Then you can select either three, four, or five flavors in dish or cone form.

The interior of Paciugo is very cute with a nice table and couch area and beautiful blue glass lamps hanging from the ceiling. The majority of the place is taken up by their large counter decked out with gelato. A little known secret: their bathroom is amazing. Just go in and try their soap and lotion. My only gripe about the interior is the size. Since its rising popularity, it has become harder and harder to find a seat during the peak hours (usually at night), and the place is certainly not able to entertain a coffee shop-like stop.

Back to the food: the thing to get at Paciugo is the gelato. Although the place also has other drinks, I have never found them to be quite as good as the plain gelato in a dish. There are both water-based and milk-based (regular and soy) gelato to choose from and both are excellent. Here, you'll find the typical ice cream and sorbet flavors like mint chip and strawberry, but Paciugo ultimately rewards the daring. Some of my favorite flavors include lychee, pistachio, rose (yes, the flower), black cherry swirl, pineapple, hazelnut, and Baileys. Some other interesting flavors I have tried are black pepper olive oil, strawberry balsamic vinegar, and bleu cheese (which I have found to be quite satisfying in small doses but probably not a full serving).

If you go there often enough, be sure to ask for a Paciugo card. The card tracks your purchases and you can redeem freebees after spending certain quantities (I've got two die-hard friends who are a few shy from a grande cooler ;P).

With dozens of flavors to choose from, it is not a place I see ever getting old. Paciugo has truly established a bustling niche in the heart of the many ice cream shops on State Street for years to come.

Every time Tossy walks by the Paciugo cafe, she is tempted to go inside. Delicious water-based gelato flavors are always available. Chocolate sherbet, kiwi, watermelon, and pink lemonade are among her favorites. She has also tried more exotic flavors, like "mango-cucumber", a combination that probably only works for gelato, and "strawberry pepper." Mmm.

2 comments:

-Deb- said...

Gelato fans should also get to Java Cat. They also offer conventional and adventurous flavors; my personal favorites are wild berry and chocolate chili.

Jahboh said...

Deb- I agree - Java Cat has very tasty gelato but unfortunately, I am generally not over on the east side. :( I will certainly have to try those flavors you mentioned the next time I play ultimate around there!