River Oaks District, the high-end, mixed-used development on Westheimer just inside Loop 610, has its first designated dessert shop, and with it comes a new trend for the city – rose-shaped gelato.
Amorino, a gelato and sorbet boutique, was created by two childhood friends, Cristiano Sereni and Paolo Benassi, in Paris in 2002. Today there are roughly 150 of these boutiques around the world. Husband-and-wife team Sebastien and Nathalie Debbouzzi recently opened the first location in Houston.
Inside the shop, there are two cases full of gelato and sorbet, but the menu also includes specialty drinks and other sweet treats like macarons. Pick you favorite gelato flavor or sorbet and have it whipped into a frappé. Or enjoy an affogato, which is a shot of hot espresso over a scoop of vanilla gelato (photo below). There are also icy drinks, like granitas and ice-blended sorbets.
But the real reason you’ll want to stop into Amorino is for their clever rose-shaped cones of gelato and sorbet (photo below). For the rose treat, select one from three different cone sizes (the cups are served sans petals). You can choose as many flavors as you’d like. For us, four flavors wrapped around a small cone seemed just right.
The chocolate hazelnut has already gained popularity, according to the staff, and pairs well with the indulgent dulce de leche. All of the gelati are made with organic eggs and milk and flavored with natural ingredients. The gelati and sorbets are shipped straight from Amarino’s base in Paris.
For the center – or rose bud – of your cone, try the traditional Italian flavor stracciatella made with fresh whole milk and chocolate flakes. Its subtle flavor will work well with any petal of gelato or sorbet you choose to have wrapped around it.
The sorbets at Amorino are classified as vegan. No flavor or creamy texture is lost here though. The raspberry gelato was just sweet and smooth enough, and the color was quite beautiful. Other gelato and sorbet flavors include tiramisu, coffee, lime and basil, coconut, salted butter caramel, pistachio, mango and more.
At $5.05 for a small cone, it’s a little pricey. But we think the quality ingredients and novelty presentation make it worth the extra cash.
Amorino, 4444 Westheimer in River Oaks District, 346-319-2194, amorino.com