So long, Sandy!

Well, we all survived Hurricane Sandy here in Philadelphia, and are wishing the best for our friends in New York and New Jersey in this soggy, dark time. We closed a little bit early on Monday but were back on Tuesday to sling gelato and pull espresso shots for the brave souls who ventured out into the fray, and were actually nice and busy last night. Thanks for coming out of your houses, Philly!

What got me watching the coverage leading up to and during the storm were all of the crazy Photoshopped pics people were creating to make the storm seem like the end was nigh for NYC. One Twitter user even cheated and just posted a photo from The Day After Tomorrow, with the Statue of Liberty engulfed in torrential waves. Although I do have to admit, this shark swimming through the waters off of the East River is pretty freakin' cool..

Weather's comin' Ma! Better bring in the cows!

So it looks like we're maybe in for a good solid blow late this weekend and into next week. Exciting! We're hardcore at Capogiro. Tough as postal carriers. We all have little plaques in the back of our cafes that say, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these baristi from the swift completion of your awesome cappuccino with a wicked little laurel." Or something along those lines. I'll have to check and get back to you. 

But really! You should plan ahead a bit. Stash a few pints of scuro and pumpkin gelato away in your freezer so you know that when the power goes out, you can say to yourself honestly, "Self, we simply HAVE to get down on this entire pint of gelato RIGHT NOW, else it will melt and we will be sad that this frozen awesomeness went to waste." It's totally justifiable.

Of course, the reality is that we live in a major metropolitan environment (you. Look at you! SO metropolitan!). Toss on your boots and go for a walk! I love walking around in gnarly weather. You have gotten yourself some legit boots by now, right? I mean, I know last winter was kind of a fizzle, but boots. They're for sure a must-have.

Else how are you going to troop yourself and a friend or seven to our store? And why WOULDN'T you? Come in the morning and congratulate yourself with some oatmeal. Hearty revitalization, that! And of course my most-advocated lunch for troopers such as you--soup and a strong beer! Good for the constitution. Just don't have so many strong beers that you decide Walnut Street would make for a pretty good impromptu slip-n-slide. I can't condone that. 

So embrace the weather and go for an urban hike! Assuming it arrives, of course. We all know how much those friendly, over-zealous meteorologists like to rile us up with threats of impending doom. Every now and again, though...they sure do nail it. Remind me sometime to tell you about the thundersnow in Seattle. Thundersnow! In SEATTLE! But rest assured that we'll be here for you. 'Cuz we're tough. 

It Actually Is Easy, Being Green

 New favorite flavor - Green Tea Gelato. It's amazing, it's stupendous! It's the best of East meets West. Subtle yet savory, Green Tea is my new official top pick. We haven't seen it around Rittenhouse for a while, but a customer requested it a few weeks ago and it's back by popular demand. Come in this week and try some, you won't be sorry.

In other green news, Stephanie's recipe for Cream of Broccoli soup is out of this world. It also just hit the stores, and it's going quick. Served with a sprinkle of shredded cheddar and a nice hunk of Metropolitan bread, it's the perfect precursor to a cup of gelato. Get here now before I eat it all. Sorry, vegetarians, it's not for you. We do offer plenty of other veg soups, like today's Beluga Lentil or our amazing Pumpkin with Coconut and Ginger. Yes.

Jeeper Creepers

To celebrate Halloween our wonderful kitchen staff has been carving fruit jack-o lanterns to spookify our gelato and sorbetto and each fruit has a different expression.  We promise you fun Halloween treats without any tricks.  Be sure to sample all the flavors with the fruit-o-lanterns, and definitely give our pumpkin gelato a taste if you haven’t gotten a chance.

Now I know many of you have been enjoying our late hours throughout the week and especially on the weekends but please note that our hours will be changing at the end of Daylight Savings Time.  Starting November 4, our hours are:

Mon – Thurs 7:30am – 10:30pm

Friday 7:30am – 12:00am

Saturday 9:00am – 12:00am  

Sunday  10:00am - 10:30pm

On another note, for our soup lovers, I spotted Cream of Broccoli being prepared in the kitchen! 

Juuuust a quick update on what we've got going on 'round here...

Totally fall out. Totally! Love it. Definitely my favorite time of year. (I know, I know. It's a little on the warm-ish side today. And we're all bracing for thunderstorms tonight. Which, sure. I like a good thunderstorm as much as the next guy. But it IS the middle of October, and I'm on the lookout for snow. SNOW!) Late summer is probably our best season for sorbetto, when we're rolling through all kinds of awesome fruit. But fall? Fall's when we get acorn squash, and pumpkin (which, to get out ahead of it, tastes a lot more like pumpkin than it does pumpkin pie. We get asked a lot.), and now we've even got cream cheese gelato with Medjool dates. Those three are a medio cup waiting to happen if you ask me.

[A quick aside, acknowledging that I've had a problem with parantheticals for a long, long time: I went looking for a picture of Medjool dates and this popped up and totally distracted me:

Bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with chorizo and gorgonzola. STOBBIT. BRB, copying recipe.}

And we've been blowing up our bar menu, too--it was definitely time to tuck away our warm weather drinks for a few months. You need something with a little more hair on its chest when the winds start blowing cold! So our mulled wine is back but no, we're still not going to share the recipe. Sorry! You'll just have to come see us for it instead.

We've added a few cocktails that are sort of already our favorites--the white manhattan for one. It's a take on a traditional manhattan using Philadelphia Distilling's Shine Whiskey. It's okay. Y'know. No great shakes or anything. (It's awesome. Come by for happy hour tonight and try it.) And we're still loving us some Spodee! So good in a chocolate frappe. Suddenly...suddenly I'm wondering about a frappe with Spodee and cream cheese and date gelato...might have to try that out when I'm done working later today. Also, for no other reason than I like it a lot, the John Henry 3 Lick Spiker Ale is back. If you haven't had it yet, it's a chewy, semi-sweet, super-strong sipping ale. One of the best beers I've tried in the last year or so. Definitely a favorite.

OH and SOUP! Soup's back. Gonna hold us in good stead through what rumor says is likely to be a gnarly winter. I LIKE gnarly winters. Everyone glares at me when I say that, and I sorta don't care. BRING IT. You're worried? Then you probably need better boots. So. You're coming in for happy hour for a bowl of soup with a healthy hunka bread, a white manhattan, and then a Spodee frappe for dessert. Yes? Yes.
 

Politics, Schmolitics, Let's Eat Gelato!

In case you've been living under a rock, it's an election year! Last night's debate has the world of social media in a tizzy, and everyone is screaming their opinions from the rooftops about one candidate or another. Personally, although I love discussing current events with our lovely customers, I can't wait for this election to be over so that everyone on Facebook can go back to posting about their unruly cat's hijinks or what they ate for dinner. Also, relationship statuses, can't wait to get back to you.

If there is one thing in the world that doesn't care about politics, it's gelato. Gelato is the Great Unifier. Gelato does not care who you support or what social issues stick in your craw. It just wants to be enjoyed and savored for the delicious treat that it is. Can we all please take time out of our rants and raves and come together to share in the experience of gelato? I challenge you all to come down to Capogiro today and share a cup with a friend or coworker and try to see what you have in common, versus how you differ. I'm sure you'll both agree that gelato is delicious, and we should all have the freedom and economic stability to enjoy it on the regular.

Today is a great day for flavors - first day of the season for Caribbean Sunrise Papaya, always a crowd favorite. Also on the ballot there's Molasses, Zucca (longneck pumpkin), Lemon Basil, and Pineapple Mint, just to name a few. Lets all put our differences aside and have a cup togethe!

Fall Soups and Flavors

First order of business, Soup’s on!  This week we’re serving Ribollita but I heard a rumor that our famous Spicy Tomato Soup will be making an appearance soon too.  For now, come in and enjoy a cup of our Tuscan Ribollita soup.  This hearty soup is full of Cannellini beans, black kale, carrots, celery, onions, parsley, garlic, and tomatoes that all swirl around in a steamy-hot beef broth.  ‘Tis the season of sniffles and sneezing, so come armor your body with a cup of hot, vegetable-rich soup or a cup of fresh squeezed orange juice!

Next  order of business, Mele e Mascarpone.  Mascarpone, for those of you who aren’t familiar with it, is a sweet, light, traditional italian cheese that is made with milk and a citric acid.  It is an excellent pair for Heirlook Apple.  For those of you who know what Mascarpone is, I’m sure you are already on the way here.

Remember that we also have Apple Cider and other fall flavors!  In the picture above, you can spot our Bourbon Vanilla and our Zucca (Pumpkin) Gelato sandwiching the Mele con Mascarpone in the middle.  Why not get a medio with all three?

See you soon!

Another of those instances wherein I've changed my mind

So I have to admit that after being subjected to one too many Thanksgiving helpings of candied sweet potatoes as a kid (they looked a lot like this:)

I definitely developed a pretty strong aversion to anything sweet potato. Fries, mashed, whatever that...creation...is up there...not really for me. For sure some of my favorite tippling locations pride themselves on their sweet potato fries, but they've always left me pretty underwhelmed. They're never as crispy as I'd like, and they seem to be more centered on being sauce delivery vehicles than most other appetizers. All in all I'd really rather just have, you know, a fry.

But then there's this:

That's our sweet potato pecan praline gelato, and it's pretty well entirely turned me around on the whole sweet potato experience. Definitely one of our prettier gelati, what with its powerful dark ribbon of praline twisted around the pastel hue of the sweet potato. It's another of our best flavors like tahini or avocado that do an awesome, unique job of balancing sweet and savory. And, of course, it's a flavor that you're not going to find at one of those establishments that deals in nonsense like fudge-covered peanut butter-filled pretzels or whatever. Know what I mean? You know what I mean.

And it tastes like fall in the best way. It tastes like the color of turning leaves smells. To me, anyway. It's here now! Hopefully it'll last a couple weeks; it pairs with our mulled wine really, really well. So come stop by!

Zuppa!

It's back! Yep, starting tomorrow, it's soup season again! Tell your friends, tell your coworkers, tell errybody! In the cooler months, Capogiro offers our beloved customers an array of simple and delicious soups, all made in the peasant style and served with a side of fresh Metropolitan bread. 

 Some of our favorites include Black Lentil, Tuscan White Bean, Cream of Tomato, Pumpkin, and my personal favorite, Potato Corn Chowder with Bacon (!). We've had a lot of folks coming in the past few weeks asking about our soups. Well rest assured folks, they will be piping hot and ready to serve to you this weekend. Yum.

Also, a shiny farthing to whomever can name this delicious fall flavor!

Party Weekend in Midtown Village!

Midtown Village’s Fall Festival surrounded Capo13 this Saturday (I mean the festival literally took place right in front of our doors) and boy did we make a lot of tipsy party people happy.  The streets were flooded with extremely ‘festive’ folks celebrating Octoberfest and we were happy to serve up tons of gelato for the festivities.  The crowd favorite seemed to be our Sweet Potato Pecan Praline gelato closely followed by Zucca.

On Sunday, Outfest (an awesome gay pride block party) was right down the street and although it was rainy, there was a lot of energy on the block and we could hear the party from inside Capogiro.  After my shift was over at four, I meandered down the street with my friend Alyssa to check it out.  There was literally gaiety all around; cool vendors, interesting foods, live performances, happy people, and drag queens strutting their stuff.  The atmosphere was welcoming and exciting.

Both fests were something to see, and if you missed either or both of them this year, be sure to attend them next year!!  These kinds of festivals really represent the growth and cultural development of our Philadelphian Community!!

- Tori

Totally of two minds about this.

So Rome's city council, distressed that the city's myriad cultural and historic locations were being over-run by tourists shoveling various foodstuffs into their faces, has put in place a scale of fines for committing the crime of eating and trying to get some culture at the same time.

On one hand, I really do understand this. I'm pretty regularly dismayed at how grungy some of our best tourist spots in town can be...though truth be told that may be more about the natives than the visitors. Which is distressing.

On the other hand, though...well. It's funny. I was about to try to make the point that there's nothing wrong with walking and eating at the same time, but then that's for sure one of those Americanisms that draws a bit of ire from people who arguably know better than us how to enjoy their food, like Italians and the French. I love street food (OH HEY--did you know tonight is the last Night Market of the year?! Come see us send off the summer in Chinatown! [rain or shine, beeteedubs.]) as much as anyone, but the best street food is really hand food--stuff you don't need utensils to eat, like tacos or danger dogs or charred meat on a stick.

So street food is one thing...but maybe not all foods should be street food? I think what I'm coming around to is that most foods should be eaten sitting down to allow for a certain amount of savoring. Yes. Writing this all out has helped me come to the conclusion that if, say, you get a cup of gelato at our 13th Street store and then stroll over to City Hall--particularly if you're a visitor--you're inevitably going to be too distracted by both phenomena to really appreciate either. I mean, you can't really delve into Philadelphia's most awesome, hand-crafted, perfection-embodied creation if you're trying to take in the world's largest masonry building, right? So. For sure come get some gelato! And some espresso. But set a spell before you go zipping down the sidewalk. You're never going to really appreciate the little chunks of candied hazelnuts in our bacio gelato if you're walking.

And really--last Night Market of the year tonight! Come say hi!
 

It's Costume Time!

Whether or not you're young or old, everyone likes dressing up in Halloween costumes. No matter if it's your first time trick or treating, or if you're that frat guy who goes every year as the "Breast Inspector" (clever, brah), we all love pretending to be in character for the night.

When my brother and I were kids, my parents would switch off making our Halloween costumes from scratch. My mother would usually have us be some sort of literary figure like Robinson Crusoe or Anne of Green Gables. My father was much more of a carpenter, and would construct elaborate costumes out of cardboard, foamcore, or rubber.

My dad also loves puns. When I was four my father had this wonderful idea to make my costume a giant cardboard cylinder with holes cut out for my arms and face. One side he painted like a Morton Salt shaker (complete with little girl and raincoat), and the other like a Duracell Battery. My costume was... "Assault and Battery". The other parents thought it was a riot, but I had no idea what the joke was so I just went running around yelling "I'm Salt!", and falling down a lot. 

In any case, no matter what ridiculousness you dress your kids or self in this year, make it a point to come down to Capogiro 20th Street. We will be participating once again in the Rittenhouse Row Trick or Treat festivities and will give you lots of candy.

What rhymes with spider and is not as scary?

Cider.  Apple cider.

Speaking as an apple cider connoisseur, Capogiro’s cider is premium.  It tastes like they liquefied the perfect fall landscape, heated it up with some autumn spices (we can add cinnamon and/or nutmeg if you'd like), and served it to you in a mug.

Ironically, I am a barista that dislikes coffee, so I am particularly excited to sip on some cider at work.  For all my fellow non-coffee drinkers out there, come in and enjoy a cup of steaming hot cider.  In our part of town, there aren’t many changing leaves, but there are plenty of fall fashions making an appearance on our corner.

Come in, sit by the window, order a piccolo zucca (pumpkin) gelato, and enjoy a cup of steaming cider to fend off the chill!  Maybe even add a dollop of dulce du leche (caramel swirl) to your cup to make it even better!!

-Tori