Donate to a good cause: Send me to Italy!

It has come to my attention that, in order to be a more educated, articulate Capogiro manager, I really need to affiliate myself more with the birthplace of gelato. In that spirit, I have decided to embark on a campaign to travel to a distant land in order to gain the knowledge that will enable me to become a true Capo zen master. As I am a little short on cash, I am asking you all to help me to study abroad: Send me to Italy!

In case you need further convincing, I have prepared a brief list of reasons for you to help me in this noble cause.

Reasons you should pay for me to go to Italy:

1. I could learn to pronounce every single one of our gelato flavors correctly. I could learn to trill my R's and elongate my vowels just so. I've been working on this while behind the case but it just looks like I'm talking to the flavors and it wierds out the customers. Just for the record, I don't talk to the gelati. (Except for you, Thai Coconut, you're my only friend).

2. I am not Julia Roberts. I just saw Eat. Pray. Love. and I would look WAY cuter sitting on a bench in the middle of a piazza eating gelato than she would. Julia Roberts looks like a horse.

3. Vespas are sexy. I recently signed up for an OkCupid account so I'm busy trolling the interwebs for ladies, and I need to learn more about how to be sexy. Everyone looks better on a Vespa, and Italy is full of them.
4. Going to Italy may be my only way to possibly ever hear someone say, "It's-a me, Mario!" outside of a Nintendo game.

5. Make friends with the police. I've always wanted to have a buddy who was a police officer. Being friends with a cop can be very handy in all kinds of predicaments. Many cops in Italy ride Vespas too, so we can hang out together looking sexy and keeping it real. In particular, it is the Italian dress uniform that really gets me. So adorable!!

So, in closing, please help me obtain my lifelong goal of going to Italy. I will accept donations in the form of American dollars, Euros, travelers checks, bottle caps, sacks of grain, and/or ponies.

Thank you all for your support.

So There's Snow Outside

. . . we get it.

No really, we get it.

But there's plenty of yum inside, so don't forget about that either.

Yum, you say? Yes, yum. For instance, this yummy "Little Digger" spoonable dark chocolate yumminess. You can spread it on a toasted brioche, a chocolate chip cookie, or put a little in your morning yogurt. I've even bought an orange and dipped in in there too. What can I say? YUM!

Happy Holidays from the crew at CapoPenn

We look forward to seeing you again on January 9th. Until then, have a very happy time, keep it warm and avoid inferior milks.

Bad Santa

So, my BFF is currently at the Ritz and has been texting me nonstop about this foreign film she is watching, Rare Exports (click to view trailer). This movie looks AWESOME. From the trailer it seems like some Finnish dudes drill into an icy mountain and unearth an ancient evil in the form of a psycho-killer Santa Claus. This has prompted me to make a list of awesome holiday horror movies to help get you into the Xmas spirit. Here goes:

Jack Frost. This flick is about a killer snowman who can melt himself and then regenerate. Amazing. There's also a pretty crazy murder scene involving a girl, a shower, and a carrot. Ow, and brrr at the same time.

You have to check out Black Christmas. It's a film that combines a Christmas, a serial killer, sorority girls, and mayhem. Also this film features the brilliant plot twist that the killer is calling from, you guessed it, INSIDE THE HOUSE! Ahhhh!!

Santa's Slay is also a must-see. Basically, it's another killer Santa movie (that guy really needs try some yoga). One of the best scenes in this movie involves someone getting their head set on fire then drowned in egg nog. Epic.

The best Christmas horror movie of all time, however, has got to be Gremlins. Phoebe Cates delivers one of the greatest monologues ever about how she found out that there was no Santa Claus. The only issue that I have with this movie is if you can't shine bright lights on them or get them wet, what fun are they as pets? Also, can you only not feed them after midnight in the central standard or do they just magically know what timezone they're in..? Whatever, in any case, they're ADORABLE.


So Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, kids. Enjoy all the merry-making! Just be sure to lock your doors and double pump your shotguns just in case Santa comes to town. Ho, ho, ho!

Merry Christmas Y'all!

Here are two of my favorite things at Capogiro that I think may help warm you up this holiday season. First an affogato, or a scoop of gelato and a single shot of espresso...

This one's got Hazelnut gelato in it and it was AMAZING. Secondly, you could try Mexican Chocolate gelato who's warm spiciness should find warm you up just nicely.

Merry Christmas from 13th street!!

Panna Tutorial

OK, everyone, let's get this straight. There are three kinds of pannas:


1. panna

The classic and original whipped heavy cream, sweetened ever so slightly and dispensed most angelically onto your gelato or hot chocolate.


2. Aqua Panna

Brisk, refreshing bottled flat water from the fine people of San Pelligrino.


3. panna-andas

Endangered Brazilian creatures, written originally about here, whose biological mass is composed entirely of panna (fig.1). Recent research has revealed that panna-andas have mean fathers and most have a serious gambling problem.

Now that that's straightened out: back to panna business.

After holiday party...

Possible hangover cures include, but are not limited to; hairs of the dog, Bloody Marys, LOTS OF WATER, deep fried canaries (oh, you crazy Romans), Vitamin C, Vitamin E, exercise, buttermilk, egg sandwiches, tonic water, tripe (ew), tomato juice, hot showers, PBR!, boiled cabbage, Vegemite on toast, and/or tons of sleep.

What's your favorite cure, Capo kids? I know I wasn't the only one feeling it on Tuesday morning!

Oh, Holiday Revelry!

This week was our annual holiday party. It was interesting. I loved the mode of dress and admired the fancy sweaters. Take a look.

Adrienne looks so happy wearing her circa 1988 "Dear Santa Dear Santa Sweater" complete with shiny Christmas Tree and a nipple bow. Sweet Alex borrowed one of Adrienne's many Christmas sweaters and Nelson was sporting a fancy dark green sweater with bonus present embroidery on the back shoulder! Like a tattoo! 13th Street really represented this year. I expect the rest of y'all to step it up next year.

We had our annual gift exchange. The rules being that you spend $10, wrap and put it on the table. Everyone just swaps. Miles was a winner with his Snuggy, snugglie? Only $10?!?! What a steal!

The biggest loser had to be Jay who, coincidentally received Miles' gift of dried pasta, Rolos and bandaids. I know, gross. I wish you could have seen poor Jay's face. He was heartbroken. Miles kept repeating, "There is 10 dollars worth of stuff in there!" I am sure, in fact positive, that that did not really soothe Jay's devastation. He could have used a picture of Ezra! Look how happy she is! I don't know about you, but a picture of Ezra for $10!?! Ezra, don't sell yourself so cheaply!!

Sarah did an incredible job. She arranged for tamales, tacos and chips and warm spiked cider. Irlanda and Mago made incredible guacamole (best ever! and we had Dante tearing through the place. It was awesome!) and this shrimp salsa thing that was incredible. John after sampling both, opined that our next project should be a Mexican place. Jay made some weird gin concoctions and I heard that after I left some keg stands were attempted. Oh you kids!

The best part of the evening is that some old Capogirians stopped by. Patrick was there! He now is working out in the burbs selling food with judgment and Emily stopped in. Beth finally came back from Germany! We missed you Beth!! We got to wish Christian the best and Chris is off with his most talented wife to Spain. We will miss y'all horribly.

It was a wonderful evening. John and I cannot imagine doing this crazy business without the great personalities that work to make Capogiro what it is. With four cafes we cannot always get to know everyone as well as we want to and last night was incredibly rewarding to be able to talk and find out what y'all's hope and dreams may be. That, or if you are a fun or sloppy drunk. All good. All great.

Thank you.

You mean to tell me there's fruit at Capogiro?

Yes!

Capogiro will be selling fresh fruits for you to nom on! They come in a couple of ways:

CUT! $3 for a big 'ol cup of freshly cut fruit.

Or, WHOLE! $.75 for a piece of fruit.

I hear what you're saying, "But just fruit won't fill me up!" And I hate to be your mother about this, but guess I'm gonna have to walk you through it.

To go with the fruit we've got yogurt, granola, panini, and of 

course, gelato. So yes,you can eat healthy and have it fill you up. Well, what are you waiting for? 

Breakfast (and lunch too) is served!

Italy #3 Slimmest Nation in Europe

Yeah, that's right: Italy. Pasta, cheese, cured meats and GELATO galore, but still basically tied with Norway and Sweden as third least-fat nation in Europe. The Swiss are ranked #2 behind Romania (are they all gymnasts, or something?), but I think they cheated.

Topping the not so slim list are the UK, Ireland and Malta. Really? Malta? As it turns out, due to the enduring popularity of the Dashiell Hammett's book "The Maltese Falcon", the inhabitants of Malta have made a habit of snacking on creme-filled chocolate Maltese Falcons. The kicker is that THE CANDIES ARE SCALE REPLICAS OF THE MOVIE PROP! Insane.

So this blog post goes out to all you ladies and gents who are worried about their gelato consumption ruining their carefully honed phsyiques. Don't worry, people: the sveltest people of Europe gobble the stuff with impunity and suffer no ill effect.

How? Why? Because gelato is magic, duh.

It's cold. Solution: EAT MORE GELATO!

It's true, nothing combats a stinging, arctic chill better than a delicious frozen treat. Much like how eating spicy food on a hot day makes you sweat and cools you down, the best remedy to beat the cold is with a cup of yummy gelato! I tried this theory out today at 20th Street. After coming into the store after a long wintry walk, I felt like my fingers were going to break off of my hands like little fleshy icicles. Although every instinct in my body said to head straight for the hot coffee and warm embrace of steamy soup, I opted instead for a giant bite of Irish coffee gelato. As my insides started to feel as cold as my outsides, I began to shiver uncontrollably. This resulted in an immediate burst of heat from all the tiny muscle spasms, and voila! - I was warm.

Try it out for yourselves, folks! This tactic worked so well that I'm thinking about jumping into a frozen lake the next time I feel a little chilly. No pain, no gain!

Coming soon, salmon gelato! (Just kidding, that would be disgusting).

Dogs love gelato too!

Pre-gelato.
Gelato!
Post gelato.
What's the lesson here? Occasionally it's nice to treat your pup to some Fior di Latte. Just sayin.

Happy Holidays from 13th Street

Dear Philadelphia, the artisans at Capogiro 13th would like to send you all the warmest greetings this holiday season. And what's the best way to warm up at Capogiro? With a Hot Chocolate!!

Nom nom nom nom nom nom nom...

But what to go with our rich and delicious Hot Chocolate? Ooo ooo, a hand-made Candy Cane!!

Mmmmmmm...

Or, a locally baked spicy vegan Crumpkin with Cream Cheese!!

Yyyyyuuuuuummmmm...

Ok, but maybe some savory Sea Salt Caramels!!

It's too hard to choose y'all. I guess you'll just have to come and make up your own mind. :)

The wonders of new life.

In case you haven't heard, NASA recently announced that they had found a completely unprecedented bacterial life form in a California lake which uses arsenic rather than carbon to form its genetic building blocks. The implications are mind-boggling. Not only does this discovery change the way that terrestrial science will examine biology henceforth, but it also means that our search for alien life has also broadened enormously. The possibilities of alternate biologies based not only on carbon, but also numerous other possible elements, gives scientists and optimists worldwide great hope of possibly discovering E.T.s in our lifetimes.


Mono Lake, home to the newly discovered life form
It's unfortunate that this announcement coincided perfectly with the less-heralded press release from a small group of scientists studying deep in the heart of the jungles of Brazil which stated that they had found a new form of the Ailuropoda melanoleuca, better known as the great panda, a life form that had hitherto only been observed in Asia. This new panda is also unlike anything science has ever seen: the creature's biological components are composed entirely of whipped heavy cream. The beast was quickly dubbed the "panna-anda" and driven nearly to extinction by the very scientists who discovered it, as they quickly determined that morsels of the bear tasted great atop their hot chocolates and gelato treats. Fortunately, a radical group of environmentalists were able to rescue and protect a small pack of panna-andas, and with the help of a team Chinese panda specialists, they believe that they will be able to bring the panna-andas back from the brink of disaster. Until the panna-andas are once again thriving, we suggest that you show solidarity for their cause by enjoying only the finest in non-panda derived whipped cream, as found at our fine cafes.


A panna-anda slowly splits in two after falling asleep in a tree.

It's cold up in this (Ritten)house!

Brr... Winter is definitely grasping at us with its icy hands, smacking our faces with tendrils of stinging cold rain. Why not come inside 20th Street for a warm up? Our favorite winter treat is the Ciocccolato Caldo con Panna, or Italian Hot Chocolate as we like to call it.

Throughout Europe, particularly Spain and Italy, hot chocolate is served much thicker that the wimpy hot chocolate of the US. Here at Capogiro, you can have it either way, but we insist that you at least try the Cioccolato Caldo. Made with milk, cocoa, and sugar, (plus a magical secret ingredient), Italian Hot Chocolate is a sipping chocolate, and is best when enjoyed with a delicious side of fresh whipped cream...

Caitlin prepares a bubbling pot of Cioccolato Caldo

So come, impress your date by ordering a tasty beverage outside the status quo, and get your drink on. Be warned though, Cioccolato Caldo is served incredibly hot, so make sure you don't look like a jackass and burn the roof of your mouth, m'kay..?