Tour del Gelato: GROM
By now you should know how I feel about gelato.
If you don't, well, it is love. No, it is beyond love. It borders on obsession.
But, if you are going to be obsessed about something, you might as well make it gelato.
Ms. Adventures in Italy, who hosts the Tour del Gelato, encourages people to review their favorite gelaterias for all the world to see.
I figured I would join in on the fun!
You see, once you have been to Italy and experienced the real thing, it is really hard to settle for anything less.
And even harder to find anything resembling authentic Italian gelato.
So, when I realized we'd be headed to New York City , I was over the moon about visiting Grom.
Grom is a real Italian gelato company, that opened it's doors in Turin, Italy in 2003. They quickly established a reputation for high-quality, all natural gelato. Classic Italian flavors made with fresh organic ingredients, in season, grown on their own farms in the best areas of Italy.
Many more locations sprouted throughout Italy and in 2007, much to my excitement, a New York City store was added to the list.
New York City now has two. My visit was to the location on Bleecker and Carmine in Greenwich Village.
Normally, there would be a line snaked around the building, but since we visited on a weekday, we lucked out. No lines to speak of.
This sign greeted us upon entering. It is a good thing there was no line. Making a selection with this many choices was going to be a time consuming chore.
Nocciola, Fragola, Pesca, Pistacchio and Melone. Some of my classic favorites.
But then Caffé Espresso and Cioccolato Extranoir were staring me right in the face.
Decisions, decisions.
And lookie here…
I am a huge fan of the salt and caramel combination. This just made the choice much harder.
And since this gelato is not exactly cheap, the choice is an all important one.
The glass counter that typically displays the gelato selections like a rainbow of colors is strangely absent from Grom, much to my chagrin.
Instead, more of a modern, streamlined counter is acheived with the use of shiny stainless steel lids hiding the flavors below.
Maybe this keeps the gelato fresher, colder or germ free. Who knows?
We watched others delight in their selections, trying to guess which flavors they were ordering, sneaking peeks under the lids as they were raised, all the while staring intently at the menu, hemming and hawing, trying to choose.
We finally decided to split a large coppetta (cup) for $6.75. In Italy, I remember that you could squeeze as many flavors into a large as you desired. This weighed heavily into our decision to share a large, thinking we would taste an abundance of different flavors.
But, then the Grom server snaps me back to the reality that this is the U.S. and a large cup would only allow us three flavors.
Three measly flavors? Can you believe it?
Somewhat disappointed, we ordered Yogurt, Fragola and the flavor of the month, Caramel.
We grabbed a seat on a bright blue banquette in the area lined with mouth-watering photos of the gelato ingredients and quickly made short work of our gelato.
All of my disappointment quickly subsided as soon as the cold custard hit my lips and the flavors burst forth in my mouth.
All three flavors were delicious. It should come as no surprise though that my favorite would be the Caramel. That is not to say that others weren't great. The Fragola was very ripe and sweet and the Yogurt has just the right amount of tang.
You could really taste the quality of the ingredients.
So even though the location, the lack of obvious gelato display, the exorbitant cost and the three flavor rule were a stark reminder that we were far from Italy; the creamy, pure, natural taste and texture of the gelato transported me in an instant to the country I so love.
And I would have it no other way.
Grom- Bleecker
233 Bleeker at Carmine
Greenwich Village
New York City
212.206.1738
Grom- Broadway
2165 Broadway
Upper West Side
New York City
212.362.1837
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August 27th, 2008
oh yum yum yum yum. My heart did a little patter when I even saw your photo of the menu. I ALWAYS get Crema di GROM and Caffe’
(But only after I’ve tried the flavor of the month just for fun).
August 27th, 2008
First, I like your blog’s new look : ) Very pretty!
The first time I ever tried gelato was in Rome. We were in the Piazza Navona and I’ll never forget the way the flavors hit my tongue and I was so in love with it!! There is a gelato place in our city that is apparently spectacular (the family moved from Italy and opened up their little restaurant here), but I have yet to try it. Now I think I might have to.
August 27th, 2008
I am soooo jealous! I’ve been dying to go to Grom. Just reading the menu my mouth is watering-I would have definitely tried the caramel too! My cousin’s son works at the one on the upper west side.
August 27th, 2008
Erin~ Sounds like you liked Grom in Italy? I lucked out on this flav of the month. Mmmm. my fav
I love the Piazza Navona!! Now you listen to me girl- YOU RUN RIGHT OVER TO THAT GELATO PLACE IN YOUR CITY!!!! Don’t walk…RUN!!! YOU. GO.NOW.
He should send you some samples 
Erin~ Thanks for the compliment. I like it too
ps…I am coming to Canada in October. I think I may email for some advice.
Janie~ Ok, we are even on the jealous thing then, because you just went to Italy for like a whole 6 weeks!! Aw, too bad I didn’t know…I could have said hello to him
August 27th, 2008
Oh you poor things, only 3 flavours
I can’t even get one!!!!
I remember when we went for one the first time in Lake Como, oh my, what a decision to make..I had three flavours and my husband three different, and shared
August 27th, 2008
My intro to gelato was in Rome in 2006. It took me straight to Heaven, and I ate it twice a day while I was in Italy. My favorite was a place in Florence, and I can’t remember the name of it. Thanks for telling us about this store!
August 27th, 2008
Next time I am on the Upper West Side I am so going to Grom on Broadway. I have passed it a couple of times and I keep thinking the name looked familiar, and now I know why. I had heard of it in the gelato context but before it opened in the U.S..
Have you ever tried Il Laboratorio del Gelato?
August 27th, 2008
Yummy….made my mouth water! My favorite is the coconut which I had every single place we stopped…sometimes combining it with either a melon for a tropical mix or chocolate for a Mounds treat! My 2nd fave is the cherry…thanks for the virtual gelato treat!
August 27th, 2008
$6.75, wow that is a bit pricy. I bet it was good. I’ve found a gelato place not too far from my home that I indulge in every now and then.
Unfortunately, no matter how good it tastes it’s just not the same as eating a gelato while walking the streets of Italia.
I think its time to go back….
August 27th, 2008
Anne~ Sharing is the ONLY way to go
And you can have more of it from all that vacation walking!!
Kenju~ You bet!! Yeah, nothing beats Florence!!
City GIrl~ You better go to Grom on Broadway. Lemme know what you think. And no, never been to Il Laboratorio del Gelato…do tell. Where is it?
Angie~ Virtual tours are the best… All the fun, none of the calories
Ice tea~ Yeah, pricey! I agree, somehow the gelato always tastes better in Italian surroundings
August 28th, 2008
Because of the foodblogs, I was more inspired to try new and different foods, I am learning a lot and also thanks for sharing your ideas because at the same time I am also trying my best to learn how to prepare (decent meals
Busby SEO challenge
KabonFootPrint
August 28th, 2008
Yummy. I just had caramel at our place last week. It was delish!
PS-Love your new look. I thought I was on the wrong page for a min!
August 28th, 2008
kfp~ Welcome and thanks for popping by:)
Cherrye~ Thanks!! Yeah, I am funny like that- I get board..didn’t mean to freak ya out!!
August 29th, 2008
I love that they list where so many of the ingredients come from…but “slushy ice” for granita?! Sheesh, if they’re going to call it that, I think I’d prefer they’d just let people guess what it is
August 29th, 2008
Michelle~ I know. I know. Remember though, this is the U.S.- many people may not know what granita is….so they have to dumb it down
August 29th, 2008
Ha…just saw this post and couldn’t resist linking this picture that I took when hubby and I went to the Holy Land, I mean Grom, in Florence. I went there twice in three days, and I’m proud to say that both times I ordered the largest size they had!!
August 29th, 2008
Ha…just saw this post and couldn’t resist linking this picture that I took when hubby and I went to the Holy Land, I mean Grom, in Florence. I went there twice in three days, and I’m proud to say that both times I ordered the largest size they had!!
August 29th, 2008
Ha…just saw this post and couldn’t resist linking this picture that I took when hubby and I went to the Holy Land, I mean Grom, in Florence. I went there twice in three days, and I’m proud to say that both times I ordered the largest size they had!!
September 1st, 2008
I am a gelato fan too! Will look for this place in New York.
September 23rd, 2008
Wow… that looks great! Can’t wait to give it a try next time I’m in the City. There’s nothing better that great gelato.