N'ice Cream - On the Boardwalk, Over the Sea

My friend 'Designer' had bought the Groupon deal for $5 for $10 worth of N'ice Cream a while back - and after the Good Food Fest last weekend, we walked over to the closest location, at The Market at Santa Monica Place, for a gelato break.

N'ice Cream prides themselves on organic gelato and sorbet, made fresh daily on the premises. 

Their gelatos are made from organic milk from Rock-view farms, and are "a bit lighter" than competitors' with less cream and sugar.  Their sorbets use fresh, locally grown fruit when possible.

I haven't been to their Abbot Kinney or Venice oceanfront walk locations, but at The Market at the top floor of Santa Monica Place, the selection is relativelly small, and not nearly as many varieties nor as inventive as Gelato Bar & Espresso Cafe.  Given that pricing is at: 1 scoop=$3.50 2 scoops $4.50 3 scoops =$5.50, we decided to get 2 scoops each with the Groupon.

My picks were: Hazelnut Chip and N'ice Cream Delight.  Hazelnut Chip was a lovely hazelnut base gelato with crisp chocolate bits strewn throughout - delicious!  N'ice Cream Delight featured rum, hazelnut and chocolate chip - reminding me of rum raisin but nuttier flavors and chocolate pieces instead of raisin!  The texture was indeed just slightly less creamy/dense than competitors' gelato - well balanced and perfectly refreshing after a hot day walking around outdoors at the Good Food Fest (or the beach!).  The scoops are also fairly generous in size - though the flavors I got were so addictive I was tempted to get second rounds, calories be damned!

N'ice Cream also offers toppings for their gelato / sorbets as well as milkshakes. 

With the organic offering and convenient locations, I plan to be back next time I'm in the area - gotta love desserts that are 'good for you'! ;)

[For more deals like this one, check out my Get More Bites Outta Your Budget page!]

On a 7 point scale:
Flavor - 5.5 bites
Presentation - 5 bites
Originality - 5.5 bites
Ambience - 5 stars
Service - 6 stars
Overall experience - 5.5 bites
Price - $ (1 bite mark)
Probability of return visit - 85% 

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N'ice Cream 
Santa Monica Place
"The Market", 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Additional locations:
1410 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
619 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291
Website: ilovenicecream.com
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Gelato Bar & Espresso Cafe - Mini Italian Piazza in Tujunga

The Silverton name, in the LA dining scene, has been synonymous with amazing but accessible food, served in an intimate and relaxed setting.  Nancy Silverton (of Osteria and Pizzeria Mozzas and La Brea Bakery) needs no introduction - but her sister, Gail Silverton, has also proven to be a force to be reckoned with - over in the valley, starting with Gelato Bar & Espresso Cafe in the heart of Tujunga Village in Studio City (just a few steps from Cafe Aroma).

The concept is a mini Italian Piazza to provide a relaxing reprieve from the stresses of the city - and it works to charming effect.  A stone fountain with water springing out of a carved lion-head provides calming background sounds, and a communal table/bench faces outward to the few tables on the street, providing a sort of window-seat great for people watching, while Italian cafe style rattan patio chairs line the small and cozy room.   Small racks of imported Italian treats are sprinkled throughout the cafe, ranging from candies to chocolates to biscotti.

On a sunny day, strolling down the stretch of Tujunga Ave that is home to quaint clothing boutiques and artisan cafes, you truly understand the meaning of bliss.  Take that over the edge with a cold treat from Gelato Bar & Espresso Cafe.  My favorite flavor so far is one I have yet to see elsewhere:  Mascaffe - a unique blend of mascarpone cheese with swirls of coffee woven throughout.  The Tiramisu is also better than ones I've had at other places (I used to love Charley Temel's ice cream version of this flavor, but haven't seen them serve it in years - and it definitely is not of the same caliber as Gelato Bar's).  Other flavors that have intriguing names include: Canella Basilico, Nutelle, PannaCotta and Limoncello.  These form the basis of a new checklist of flavors I am determined to try before I die.  Also on my list is the "Affogato" - though its literal translation, "drowned", is an interesting choice - the actual drink/dessert consists of a scoop of gelato with a shot of espresso poured over it, topped by whiped cream, and definitely has me drooling. I'm also keeping an eye on the sorbettos and sugar free gelato also available at the bar.

Lastly, the Espresso Cafe of course also offers artisan coffees and teas, as well as a selection of fresh pastries.

Those closer to Loz Feliz can also enjoy all these treats at the Hillhurst location.

My only complaint with Gelato Bar & Espresso Cafe is the price - at $4.50 for the smallest size ("piccolo" - about a 1/4 cup serving) and $5.50 for a medium ("medio" - about a 1/2 cup), the gelato is definitely a 'treat' that budget foodies like myself can't afford to have often.  I know this is artisanal gelato and completely in a different planet from the Pinkberry froyos of the world - and that I am speaking absolute blasphemy - but had it been a scorching summer day in LA, when a frozen treat's function as cooling agent eclipses its role as a sweet finish to a meal, I would probably take quantity over quality and opt for the medium sized Pinkberry instead ($4.95 at last check for about 1 cup serving size, plus unlimited toppings; $5.95 for about 1.75 cup portion plus unlimited toppings).

Cost aside, Gelato Bar & Espresso Cafe offers a lovely place to spend part of your afternoon, and molto delizioso gelato that will keep you coming back for more.

On a 7 point scale:
Flavor - 6 bites
Presentation - 5 bites
Originality - 5.5 bites
Ambience - 6 stars
Service - 5 stars
Overall experience - 6 bites
Price - $$$ (3 bite marks)
Probability of return visit - 100%

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Gelato Bar & Espresso Cafe
4342 Tujunga Ave
Studio City, CA 91604
Ph: 818.487.1717
Website: gelatobar-la.com
Twitter: twitter.com/gelatobar
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