July 25, 2008
Gelato and Spicy Rizzak, In That Order
I meant to have an entry earlier in the week, but I was distracted by that thing called TV. But not normal TV, which is bad enough; I'm talkin' TV-whenever-I-want-it, which entails watching an entire season of Roswell. Dedicating yourself to a TV show takes up a lot of time—now I remember why I stopped watching it in high school.
BUT I CAN'T STOP UNTIL I'VE SEEN EVERY EPISODE.
Just thought you should know.
- GELATO, IN THAR
Yes, I did that "eating dessert before dinner" thing again. But you have to go to Il Laboratorio del Gelato before eating dinner because they close at the non-post-dinner-friendly hours of 6 p.m. on weekdays and 7 p.m. on the weekend. Late night gelato cravings in the Lower East Side can also be fulfilled at the Il Laboratorio counter at Whole Foods, but it's not as fun as going to the original shop on Orchard Street, even if all that entails is going up to the tiny storefront window to place your order.
- Mm, my cup
I ordered a small cup of strawberry and mint chip, two of my favorite flavors. Strawberry isn't a flavor that blows me away; it's just one of my reliable flavors, something that will satisfy and make me think, "It can't be too bad; there's fruit in it. Somewhere. Mixed with the sugar and milk." Mint chip, or any herb-based flavor, does have the potential to blow me away if it involves real herbs, something you can count on at Il Laboratorio. The mint chip had that refreshing, clean, somewhat vegetal flavor, or maybe I thought that because I imagined sniffing a mint plant. A good mint flavor (this one) mellows out my brain; a bad one (most others) stabs my brain with artificial coldness.
- It drips.
Kathy got a cone with fig and malt. Dripping with figgy malty goodness.
- Moar gelato
Shann got a cup of raspberry and chocolate hazelnut. No drippage.
- Spicy rizzak
Partially satiated from the gelato, Kathy and I split a Spicy Rizzak at Tiny's Giant Sandwich Shop. Sliced turkey, crispy bacon, melted cheddar, tomato, onion, and hot chipotle mayo on a toasted sesame semolina hero equals OH MY GOD, YES. Alternating layers of crunchiness—toasty bread, bacon, and raw onions—and smushiness—tomato, cheese, and turkey—and flavors—toastiness, baconness, spiciness, deliciousness. I could eat a whole sandwich on my own, but half was satisfying enough, besides making for a cheap dinner.
- Cobb sandwich
Shann's Cobb sandwich, made with grilled chicken, bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato, and blue cheese dressing on toasted sesame semolina, is also very good. Hell, nearly all the sandwiches at Tiny's are awesome. But it's no Spicy Rizzak. Because it actually has something green in it.
Addresses
Il Laboratorio del Gelato
95 Orchard St
New York, NY 10002
Tiny's Giant Sandwich Shop
129 Rivington St
New York, NY 10002
Posted by roboppy at 1:33 AM
Comments (19)
OMG..I love figs...we have a fig tree in the back...
Fig...gelato...
I should know by now to read this in the afternoon, when I'm full from lunch...
Posted by: Yuizaki at July 25, 2008 10:32 AM [#]
ROSWELL!!!
This is the reason why we are friends.
The ONLY reason.
BLAH. bleh-BLAH!!!
Posted by: Aliiiiiiiiiiiiice at July 25, 2008 5:18 PM [#]
TastyNewEngland: Fig and anything is pretty divine. More so in gelato form.
Yuizaki: I want a fig tree! I have...a fire escape in the back. :P
EB: That's what I'm here for!
Christina: Epic and CHEAP! Double awesome.
Alice: I'm watching right now! Just two episodes away from being done with the first season. Wooot
Gelato! I HEART gelato, particularly hazelnut gelato. Ooooooh.
What's the European hours in New York City? That's just strangely classy in a compelling kind of way.
Posted by: Mahar at July 26, 2008 1:45 AM [#]
I think you're starting the dessert before meal trend! How avante guarde!
Posted by: Allen Wong 
at July 26, 2008 11:07 AM [#]
Mahar: I dunno what's up with the hours. Not classy, JUST WROOONG! Wrong for when you have a gelato craving late at night!
Allen: Oh..totally!...yes, I like your thinking.
Janet: HAHAHAHAHA oh noes, I can't have a reputation of being a dining artist. ;)
Lucia: Thanks for reading!
OOOOO that Cobb sandwich looks DELICIOUS. I WANT IT. I am going to go make it for myself with chicken and bacon...bacon and blue cheese!! Why did I never think of this combination?!
Posted by: Kate at July 29, 2008 5:59 PM [#]
Kate: BACCOOOON!!! I must admit that I'm not a big bacon fan on its own, but in sammiches it's quite nice.
Morten: Oo, NY is good for sandwiches but i really loved the sandwiches in Paris. ..But they wouldn't haev a Spicy Rizzak, so I guess they lose. Tiny's is the best cos IT'S CHEEAP!
I've been having dessserts before dinner too recently! Beard Papa before pizza, Portuguese egg tart before piripiri chicken...I also like desserts for breakfast on Fridays! Your post made me miss the gelato at Il Laboratorio. I remember eating maple walnut flavour one winter in NYC. Intensely maple flavour with bits of walnut speckled throughout...Mmmmm I need to go back...
Tommy: Desserts are a totally acceptable breakfast. Mmhmm.
Haven't had maple walnut before. I'll have to try that!
Gwen: I GOT THROUGH SEASON 2 OF ROSWELL! I feel so accomplished. I agree about seeing the actors play small roles, although Jason Behr seemed to fall off the radar..
I tried to comment on this before, but it ate my comment... Otherwise I would have been the fourth person to be enamoured with the idea of fig gelato. If I only I weren't a lactard *cries*
Posted by: SuperChomp at August 7, 2008 8:02 AM [#]
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: This is the 
Oh man, I read fig and malt and I sat up in my chair a little bit. That must be divine.
Posted by: TastyNewEngland at July 25, 2008 8:19 AM [#]