Good Taste

Gelazzi Gelato Italiano Cafe

• Address: 128 South College Ave. in Fort Collins
• Phone: 472-5547
• Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday
  11 a.m. to midnight Thursday-Saturday
• Manager: Marcy Maxwell (co-owners are Colorado State University alums Jan Horsfall and Tom Davis, who also have a Denver location)

  Affogato Al Caffe (Italian Ice Cream with coffee)

  • Description of frozen treat: Affogato Al Caffe (Italian Ice Cream with coffee). Begin with two scoops of fresh Amaretto Chocolate Chip gelato and splash in a shot of LavAzza espresso. Top with whipped cream and serve in a chilled martini glass.
  • Creator: Gelazzi creation
  • Magic ingredient: Authentic, fresh gelato. "We make our gelato fresh every day. The great thing about gelato is that it's more dense than conventional ice cream but doesn't leave you with a heavy feeling," Maxwell says. Gelazzi's dairy-based gelato has no heavy cream, eggs or butter and a 4-ounce serving contains less than 5 percent fat.
  • Best serving advice: Use strong espresso and fresh ingredients. And make sure the glassware is chilled.
  • Favorite time to have it: On a hot Colorado afternoon.

  Morte da Cioccolato (Death by Chocolate) gelatini

  • Description of frozen drink: Morte da Cioccolato (Death by Chocolate) gelatini. Take two scoops of Chocolate Chocolate Chip gelato and add Crème de Cocoa, Absolute Vodka and Coffee Liqueur. Gently blend it all together and serve in a chilled martini glass with a coffee-sugar rim and a chocolate cigarette garnish.
  • Creator: Gelazzi specialty
  • Magic ingredient: "The Chocolate Chocolate Chip gelato is made with seven different chocolates from five countries. It has a rich flavor that tastes like fudge."
  • Best mixing advice: Watch the proportions of alcohol and don't over blend or it gets too liquidy.
  • Favorite time to have it: Happy Hour or Tuesday Ladies Night (2-for-1 drinks).

Mad Cow Creamery

• Address: 800 9th. St. in Greeley
• Phone: 356-2715
• Hours: 12 to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday
• Owners: Wesley and Jaime Scripps and Jean and Shane Sunn

  Peach Cow-bler

  • Description of frozen treat: Peach Cow-bler. Put two scoops of Vanilla Bean ice cream on a cold stone, smash it down and add graham cracker pie crust and peaches. Mix it all together and serve it in a chocolate-dipped waffle cone with whipped cream and a cherry on top.
  • Creator: Wesley Scripps
  • Magic ingredient: "The graham cracker pie crust reminds you of eating a pie. It's a mild taste, but that bit of sugar comes through at the end. The dish wouldn't be the same without it," Scripps says.
  • Best serving advice: Good, fresh ice cream and fresh ingredients. We get our ice cream from Shamrock Farms in Denver.
  • Favorite time to have it: "Definitely in the afternoon. It's a great snack before dinner to share with a friend or significant other at our outside table," Scripps says.

  Cookies `n Cream and Snickers Milk Shake

  • Description of frozen drink: Cookies `n Cream and Snickers Milk Shake. Fill a blender with two scoops of Cookies `n Cream ice cream, add ¾ cup milk and a whole Snickers candy bar chopped up. Let the blender do its thing, and serve it with a spoon and straw.
  • Creator: Wesley Scripps
  • Magic ingredient: "The Snickers bar. Caramel, peanuts and cream combines with our ice cream for a sweet, tasty drink. It's my favorite," Scripps says.
  • Best mixing advice: Always make sure your ingredients are well chopped and can be blended, so you don't get chunks of peanuts stuck in the straw.
  • Favorite time to have it: At lunchtime - it's great with a deli sandwich or salad.

Kilwin's Chocolates & Ice Cream

• Address: 114 South College Ave. in Fort Collins
• Phone: 221-9444
• Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday
• Owner: Nora Hill

  Turtle Sundae

  • Description of frozen treat: Turtle Sundae. Start with two scoops of Old-Fashioned Vanilla ice cream in a homemade waffle bowl. Cover it in hot fudge and hot caramel sauces and top with whipped cream, pecans and a cherry.
  • Creator: Kilwin's recipe
  • Magic ingredient: "To make a good sundae, you have to start with excellent ice cream. Our ice cream is super premium so it has a larger percent of cream than most, and the Old-Fashioned Vanilla has a fresh vanilla flavor," Hill says.
  • Best serving advice: Use a generous amount of pecans so you get pecans in most bites. And don't pour on too much sauce or it will drown out the ice cream.
  • Favorite time to have it: After dinner - it's great for dessert.

  Kilwin's Sunrise Kooler

  • Description of frozen drink: Kilwin's Sunrise Kooler. Start with Lemon sorbetto (sorbet) and blend with Sprite. Or substitute Raspberry sorbetto for a Sunset Kooler. "It's a beautiful drink-non-fat and non-dairy and very refreshing," Hill says.
  • Creator: Kilwin's recipe
  • Magic ingredient: Fruity sorbetto
  • Favorite time to have it: While strolling around Old Town.

Danish Cone Factory

• Address: 191 West Elkhorn in Estes Park
• Phone: 586-8624
• Hours: noon to 9 p.m. Monday-Sunday
• Owner: Maribeth Ashburn

  Chocolate Chip Heaven Waffle Cone Sundae

  • Description of frozen treat: Chocolate Chip Heaven Waffle Cone Sundae. Start with a homemade chocolate chip waffle cone and put in Chocolate Chip ice cream, drizzle chocolate sauce over it and finish with chocolate sprinkles. "It gives you a good combination of vanilla and chocolate and looks really appetizing. When you see the cone you want to try it," Ashburn says.
  • Creator: Maribeth Ashburn came up with the tasty combination in 2001.
  • Magic ingredient: The waffle cone, of course. "Our motto is: `It's all about the cone.' The batter we use is made-to-order for the shop in the Danish tradition. It's thicker, richer and more flavorful than others," Ashburn says. Bubble gum, blueberry, peanut butter and Sugar & Spice also are popular waffle cone flavors.
  • Best serving advice: Use the best ingredients and good ice cream. We use Blue Bunny Ice Cream from Le Mars, Iowa.
  • Favorite person to share it with: Your child. Kids get half off if they bring in their report cards.

  Mocha Shake

  • Description of frozen drink: Mocha Shake. Start with Dark Chocolate ice cream and Coffee ice cream, add some coffee beans and blend together with fresh milk and whipped cream. "It's thick and rich and has a great coffee flavor-better than a latte," Ashburn says.
  • Creator: Maribeth Ashburn
  • Magic ingredient: Coffee beans from a store in Estes Park.
  • Best mixing advice: Blend it slowly! "To get the right consistency, you should blend it a little, then turn off the blender and shake and stir it up. Put the lid back on and blend it some more," she says.
  • Favorite time to have it: A cool after-dinner treat.

Northern Colorado Vineyards

Snowy Peaks Winery
292 Moraine Ave., Estes Park
(970) 586-2099
www.snowypeakswinery.com

Trail Ridge Winery
4113 W. Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland
(970) 635-0949
www.trailridgewinery.com

Valley of the Wind Winery
411 N. Railroad Ave., Loveland
(970) 461-1885
and
332 E. Elkhorn Ave., Estes Park
(970) 577-8800
www.valleyofthewind.com

Wine and Grub
Where to go for good food and wine-tasting events

Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano
5929 Sky Pond Drive, Loveland
(970) 663-0100

Bisetti’s Italian Restaurant
120 S. College Ave., Fort Collins
(970) 493-0086

Canyon Chop House
211 Canyon Ave., Fort Collins
(970) 493-9588

Chimney Park Bistro
406 Main St., Windsor
(970) 686-1477

Choice City Butcher and Deli
104 W. Olive St., Fort Collins
(970) 490-2489

Domenic’s Bistro and Wine Bar
931 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins
(970) 207-0411

Fish
150 W. Oak St., Fort Collins
(970) 224-1188

4th Street Chop House
125 E. Fourth St., Loveland
(970) 613-8287

Genoa Coffee and Wine
2614 S. Timberline Road, Fort Collins
(970) 223-7744

Gustavo’s Market
2567 S. Shields St., Suite 4D, Fort Collins
(970) 484-4877

Henry’s Pub
234 E. Fourth St., Loveland
(970) 613-1896

Jay’s Bistro
135 W. Oak St., Fort Collins
(970) 482-1876

Johnny Carino’s Country Italian
4235 S. College Ave., Fort Collins, (970) 223-9455; 1455 Rocky Mountain Ave., Loveland, (970) 203-9900

Kenny’s Steak House
3502 W. 10th St., Greeley
(970) 395-0100

Manno’s Grille at Collindale
1441 E. Horsetooth Road, Fort Collins
(970) 223-2478

Monaco Trattoria
218 E. Fourth St., Loveland
(970) 461-1889

Nico’s Catacombs
115 S. College Ave., Fort Collins
(970) 482-6426

Somi’s
1544 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins
(970) 282-7664

The Inglenook
530 N. Cleveland Ave., Loveland
(970) 461-1283

The Melting Pot
334 E. Mountain Ave., Fort Collins
(970) 207-0100

Cooking classes

* Come Back to the Table: (970) 407-8828

* Edwards House Bed and Breakfast: (970) 493-9191. January through April.

* Salud Cooking and Lifestyle School: (970) 267-9200

* Tastebuds Epicurean Suite:
(970) 494-4501

* The Cupboard: (970) 493-8585

Regional Pet Treats

* Arfy’s Mercantile for Dogs and Cats
2601 S. Lemay Ave., No. 4, Fort Collins
(970) 493-1747, www.arfys.com
Treats can be purchased at the store, or order online or by phone for delivery. Also available at: Alpine Arts and Sunflower Markets in Fort Collins; and The Dog Club and Pets Plus in Loveland.

* Bones du Jour
2221 Stanford Road, Fort Collins
(970) 290-8874, www.DogTreatsSoGood.com
No storefront. Order online or by phone for delivery. Also available at: Café Ardour, Camp Bow Wow, Pet Express Salon and Mobile Grooming, and Laund-Ur-Mutt in Fort Collins; plus various farmers markets in Northern Colorado and Wyoming.

* Doggie Dips and Chips
265C E. 29th St., Loveland
(970) 461-1109
Treats are available at the store.

* Headin’ Home
145 E. Elkhorn Ave.,
Estes Park
(970) 586-9166
Estes Park Gourmet
Doggie Treats are
available at the store.