While I do not usually eat gelato in cold weather, my Bardvark duties sent me on the hunt for one of these cold, tasty treats. For those of you who have never experienced the wonder that is a gelato, it is an Italian ice cream, except much less solid and a lot creamier. There are no exclusively gelato shops in my neighborhood, which is instead overrun with Italian ices. However there are many coffee shops and bakeries that serve it. The shop I went to for this article was Nectar on Court Street in Brooklyn, located between a desolate watch repair shop, and a rival ice cream parlor. Nectar is an extremely small restaurant that is very popular with the booming population of young families in Cobble Hill. They are open for both breakfast and lunch, and along with gelato they also serve a variety of salads and sandwiches. While I do go there for the occasional gelato, the actual food is a little out of my price range for an average lunch. The first thing you notice when you walk in is the size of the place. To the left the wall is lined with a wooden bench, accompanied by a table, which takes up the rest of the customer area.

The size of the shop can become a bit frustrating seeing as how it is usually full of young screaming children, left to their own devices while their parents get sucked into their Blackberries. It seems that almost the instant you walk in you are stepping over young children running back and forth, flailing grilled cheese sandwiches, always on the verge of falling down or knocking something over. Hanging on the walls are black and white pictures of refugee children from distraught Middle Eastern and African countries. The sad pictures give the place a sort of pseudo art studio vibe even though they tend to be a downer. As you look at them, your purchase seems frivolous and unnecessary in comparison to their struggles. Call me crazy, but it might not be the best strategy to make a customer feel guilty about buying your product.

Behind the counter is an array of blenders and fruits, which all eventually lead to the kitchen all the way in the back of the shop. Nectar does not make it’s own gelato, but instead serves Ciao Bella. There are a plethora of flavors to choose from, including cookies and cream, vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and malted milk ball. I went with the vanilla this time, and it was delicious. It had that creamy yet light texture that only gelato achieves, as well as a great flavor. The price is pretty reasonable at only $3. Overall the gelato was scrumptious, and the somewhat hectic vibe is not too terrible considering you are in and out in only a minute or two. I recommend Nectar to anyone who lives in the Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill area who is in the mood for a cone or cup of frozen Italian goodness.

If you are not able to make it down to Brooklyn though, there is a very popular gelato shop right here on East Houston. It is called Il Laboratorio Del Gelato and is completely devoted to gelato. Jon Snyder, who founded and then sold the previously mentioned Ciao Bella Gelato Co, owns “The Lab”. His shop has an enormous variety of flavors ranging from Thai chili to wasabi. The prices are as cheap as gelato will get, especially for a restaurant renowned by famous foodies and chefs such as Mario Batali. Do not let the exotic flavors scare you though, this café has something for everyone, so try it on your walk to the F.