This is why I am 5 pounds fatter

This post is for Jono and Rexi - famous quote:
'I can taste the limone.'

I had gelato as much as possible last week in Sicily as I knew there wouldn't be any when I got back to the big, grey city. So now I am busting out of my trousers! I went for a run today and may have burned off at least one of my ice cream indulgences.

Bacio tastes just like Baci chocolates. Not sure if the pic above the bacio is caffe (coffee) and the one below is dolce latte. There were so many at this gelateria by the beach it was overwhelming. In the last pic you will see a flavour called Puffo - like the Smurfs, not sure what that one would taste like?!

I always choose the same few flavours though - limone (lemon, which is made without milk), caffe (made with espresso), nocciola (hazelnut - tastes like Nutella), banana & cioccolato (chocolate). TheI sometimes venture out a little bit more but usually stick to the devil I know.

The flavour below is cannoli - so there is ricotta in the ice cream and also some original Sicilian cannoli sticking out of the ice cream too....yum!



My tour guides, the Puzzo brothers enjoying their gelato.

Dove Chocolate

I was picked by a company to try out some new Dove chocolates and to distribute it to friends to get their feedback and try their product. I have been delaying posting about it for several reasons and although the PR people who sent it to me are extremely nice I am not a huge fan of the product.

I have a few comments about the products:

• I like the different flavours they offer - the milk, dark and mix of the two (my favourite was the mix of the two)
  
• I like the handy little packages they came in - there are four small squares in a cute little sleeve that is nice to keep in your purse for a choc-attack - perfect for a bite sized chocolate fix
  
• I like the branding and the packaging looks nice

But here are other comments which are not necessarily negative but observations:

• The taste of the chocolates was ok, nothing spectacular and I have definitely had better - especially the new organic versions on the market beat this brand by a mile
• The pack of chocolates came with one branded champagne glass - a) champagne glasses are nice gifts when they come in sets of two (unless you are a Bridget Jones type drinking alone) and b) why would I want a branded champagne glass? It's a bit tacky
  
• There are messages printed on the inside of each wrapper - which is something I love about the Italian Baci chocolates - they have lovely poems about love and proverbs but the ones inside the Dove chocolate were terrible (hire a new copywriter!) Some examples:
  
• Sleep in
• Start a travel fund
• Jump on the bed
• Use expensive shampoo

Not the most inspiring messages when you are indulging in chocolate. They should be a little saucier, fun or with a more tongue in cheek tone.

• And, friends that I distributed it to - liked it but again were not giving me feedback that was overly gushing about the product
  

Is this terrible, to not write rave reviews of free samples? I think it's best to always be honest and if it was chocolate that tasted orgasmic then you know I would've written about it.

Overall, it was good and I would probably buy it in a few months to see if the little messages have improved.

Alimentari Alimentari is a new deli/café in Queen’s Park, London. My friend Clara and her two partners set up shop in December - it is a quaint and fabulous little place to pop in for an espresso, cappuccino or a latte, a light sandwich or some freshly made lasagne or gnocchi. They also sell salumi e formaggi (deli meats and cheese) and some great food products direct from Italy to take home. I bought some traditional northern Italian pasta for dinner –and Guido, who works there, gave me a recipe on how to make it- he was very helpful as we walked through the shop he would say, ‘oh that is good if made with a little olive oil and chilli’ or ‘that is my favourite, all you need to do is boil some pasta and add those spices’ it was like a personal shopper for food! And the lovely Italian accent made it even better (I wish I had one). With Clara’s style and dedication to quality the shop has every detail right. I met up with the Kirsten’s there and we all chatted to the main ‘supporter’ while Clara busily served the incoming and outgoing customers with cute kids and dogs in tow.

Alimentari’s website is great with tips on how to cook pasta, how to order Italian coffee and more on Italian life and eating habits. I love the design – great work Andrea!

I recommend popping in for some traditional Italian hospitality and food if you are in the neighbourhood! Auguri on the new shop opening, it looks wonderful.

Baci x (and they sell my fave Baci chocolates too)