We're celebrating at Iorio's Gelateria today, because it's a special occasion: Happy 1st birthday to Frugal Floozie Friday!
This is my 52nd post featuring fabulous foods that can be found for $5 or less per person. The project started on May 20, 2011 by showcasing a lovely Detroit crêperie near the Detroit Institute of Arts, Good Girls Go to Paris. My BFF Wendy and I thought we'd have an adventure and see if we could find some treats for those who are on tight budgets, so that they could still have some fun without feeling too much deprivation. Who knew it would turn into such a popular feature?
There was no need for cake at today's party, because there's such luscious ice cream ... but oh, so much more than mere "ice cream." Iorio's [ee-OH-ree-ohz] gelato is so rich, so vividly flavored, and so luxurious that I could work my way through a thesaurus and still feel I wasn't describing it adequately. I've tried many, many flavors and have never tasted one I haven't adored.
When Jeremy and I visited recently, he chose the mango and I chose a combination of port wine and bacio [BAH-chyo], which is dark chocolate with whole hazelnuts. These are the small cups (about a generous half measuring cup) for a mere $3.25; you can get a medium for $4 and a grande for $4.50. Cones cost 50 cents and biscotti are available for $1. And you can choose as many flavors as you'd like to combine in your serving.
Jeremy's gelato was as vibrant as if it were a freshly ripened piece of fruit, and there were chunks of mango mixed into it. The port wine was sweet and very fruity, and its texture was similar to sorbet. It paired perfectly - as port and chocolate do! - with the chocolate-based gelato, which was decadently rich and creamy.
There is always a wide variety of offerings to choose from: fruit- or chocolate-based, mint, coffee-infused, and even unusual ones like a sweet and intriguing maple-bacon flavor I once tasted just to see how it was. (You can have tastes of anything that strikes your fancy.) And the staff is fabulously friendly, greeting customers with a hearty "Ciao!" when they come in.
The great-grandchildren of Italian immigrants, the Iorio family takes immense pride in its heritage and in the delicious treats offered at the shop. If you haven't visited them yet, you should do so immediately. Today's a special occasion, after all! Why not celebrate with me and enjoy some gelato?
Iorio's Gelateria
522 E. William
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Monday: 7:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Tuesday - Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
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6 comments:
Wow, it's already been a year since frugal friday's started? Boy, time sure does fly, doesn't it? Well happy 1st birthday! And what a great way to celebrate... GELATO!!
Congratulations on your first birthday, Frugal Floozie Friday!!
As for the gelateria, my heart sank when I saw the title because I've been trying to resist making gelato. I have a few good recipes (it's too far to travel to Iorio's Gelateria from here) and a couple years ago made every single one of them in the summertime. By fall, I had to move to the next size bigger jeans. I stopped making gelato. lol
So I'm really torn, Mary. Gelato is AMAZING!!! :-) It's probably a good thing I don't live next door to the gelateria.
Yum. That looks so tasty.
Congrats on your little blogaversary.
I love Frugal Floozie Friday! I'm always intrigued how you can find such interesting finds for just $5, and I learn so much about Ann Arbor. Maybe I'll get there one day and I'll bring my $5 and know where to go.. congratulations of a full year of these great posts!
Happy first birthday! I had gelato for the first time last summer. The happy little place down at the harbor opens for summer again this month. Can't wait! Yours looks amazing! I don't know of I could choose between the mango and chocolate. David and I would have to each get one and share. :)
Happy weekend sweet friend!
Happy 1st Anniversary/Birthday!
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