So when temperatures soar well into the 90s, what's your pleasure? Is it a gelato, a nitro-treat, or an all-American ice-cream cone? More important, what's the difference between all of these chilly delights anyway? Here's a guide to what's what in the frozen-treat world — and where to get the best in Miami.
7. Vegan Juicecream
When the vegan craze hit, people were quick to make a dairy-free alternative to America’s favorite frozen treat. Using coconut, cashew, or almond milk, they began to churn ice cream without a single drop of dairy. While some recipes are waterier than others and don’t always arrive at the desired consistency, vegan ice cream is generally a good substitute for the lactose-intolerant.
Where to find it:
Jugofresh's Juicecream is
6. Shaved Ice Cream
Based on a traditional Taiwanese and Korean dessert, shaved ice cream is the newest food trend to hit the United States. Made by shaving paper-thin ribbons off a huge cylindrical block, it's a treat that combines the fluffy texture of snow with the creaminess of ice cream. Because shaved ice cream uses low-fat milk instead of heavy cream, it's lighter than ice cream and can be enjoyed with a handful of sweet toppings.
Where to find it:
Mr. Bing, a food truck circulating the Magic City, was the first to introduce this dessert to the streets of Miami this past April. The truck can usually be spotted by the Wynwood Yard. To find Mr. Bing, track the truck at mrbing.com.
5. Sorbet
Slightly grainier than ice cream, sorbet is made with only two main ingredients: fruit and sugar. Sorbet is often used as a palate-cleanser between courses but can also be enjoyed at the end of a meal.
Where to find it:
Though the Frieze Ice Cream Factory may be famous for serving some of the best ice cream in Miami Beach, it also offers the finest sorbet in town. The dozen or so flavors, including watermelon and passionfruit, are refreshing but not too watery, and tart but not too tangy. If you’re feeling fancy, ask for the crowd favorite: champagne sorbet.
4. Ice Cream
Ice cream might need no introduction — 87 percent of Americans have ice cream in their freezer at any given moment. But because of its popularity, it's important to know the basics. Made by mixing heavy cream, whole milk, sugar, and air, ice cream is churned at fast speeds to create a thick consistency.
Where to find it:
Few things put a smile on someone’s face faster than a scoop of
3. Gelato
Gelato, also known as Italian ice cream, contains whole milk. It melts in your mouth faster than ice cream because it contains less fat and no cream. Gelato contains less air than other frozen desserts, making it denser and richer than traditional ice cream.
Where to find it:
Coconut Grove's Bianco's unique flavors give you a taste of authentic gelato, made by hand with organic ingredients and milk that's GMO-free. Though
2. Frozen Custard
Egg yolk is the only ingredient that distinguishes frozen custard from traditional ice cream. The combination of butterfat and egg yolk found in frozen custard results in a thick, smooth texture that's much creamier than a conventional cup of ice cream.
Where to find it:
A few local spots sell frozen custard, but Shake Shack always seems to hit the spot. In addition to serving regular chocolate and vanilla, spun daily, the Shack offers a variety of seasonal flavors that can be tracked on the eatery's online calendar.
1. Nitrogen Ice Cream
Expect to "ooh" and "aah" the first time you see nitrogen ice cream being made. The freezing process, which usually happens in front of customers' eyes, involves the quick mixing of liquid nitrogen, cream, flavoring, and toppings in a metal bowl. While regular ice cream takes a minimum of 20 minutes to freeze, nitrogen ice cream takes 15 seconds, preventing ice crystals from forming and creating a rough texture. Because of this, nitrogen ice cream is much creamier and denser than conventional ice cream.
Where to find it:
Featured in a sustainable ice-cream tour across America, Lulu’s Nitrogen Ice Cream offers seasonal flavors using locally sourced ingredients, such as goat-cheese-and-guava and honey-lavender.
