New Places: Gelato and Cantina Grills
San Lorenzo Gelato
Did you know you can go to a university… for gelato? That’s just what master gelataio (again, also a new concept to us) Brenno Floriano did. A pastry and gelato savant, Floriano attended Carpigiani Gelato University in Bologna, Italy, and returned armed with the knowledge he needed to open Coral Gables’ very own San Lorenzo Gelato. The gelateria, which also features delectable-looking pastries created by Floriano, only just opened in October in The Plaza Coral Gables.
On our visit, we went with an Italian classic: stracciatella. This gelato originated in 1961 in northern Italy, inspired by the soup of the same name. One of the most renowned Italian flavors, it tastes like vanilla with chocolate swirls mixed in. But while American gelaterias tend to do stracciatella (if they do it at all) with vanilla ice cream and dark chocolate, at San Lorenzo Gelato they do it the proper Italian way, using milk chocolate and a milk ice cream base that makes the flavor distinctly lactose. Perhaps a bit strange to an American palate, it’s still delicious and different – as are many other flavors at San Lorenzo.
We were sorely tempted by the hibiscus and Snickers flavors, for instance, as well as the vegan chocolate, which we were assured tastes just as good as regular chocolate (remains to be seen). And we hear there are more varied flavors coming soon – including alcoholic ice cream inspired by caiprinhas, Campari, and more. Yum! – Kylie Wang
128 Sevilla Ave
305.381.5591
Sanlorenzogelato.com
Hermanos Cantina Grill
The successor to Xochimex Cantina Grill, which recently closed all its storefronts, Hermanos Cantina Grill takes the concept of fast-casual Mexican food a step further. With fresh ingredients and meats cooked right in front of you, Hermanos is even a step above the Chipotle machine. Everything here is made-to-order, with options limited to burritos, quesadillas, tacos, bowls, and a few appetizers.
One of Hermanos’ claims to fame is that it’s the only place in the Gables that offers hard shell tacos in addition to soft tortillas. With that in mind, we tried several of the hard-shell taco options, which come three apiece and feature nine options for fillings. Toppings run the gamut from pickled onions to pico de gallo to cucumbers, but we went classic with pico de gallo, lettuce, and cheese with carnitas – ground beef, and steak fillings. All were scrumptious; having the meat freshly cooked makes a huge difference. Next time, we’ll try the mahi mahi (a house favorite) and the al pastor options.
Even better than the tacos was the queso fundido with chorizo, which looked unassuming but ended up being our favorite dish of the night. We’d bottle that queso and guzzle it like it was water if we weren’t trying to watch our weight. Could it be plated better? Sure, but why would you? This is fast-casual, to-go, lunch-break food at its best, designed to be inhaled and enjoyed at the office or on-themove.– Kylie Wang
2209 Ponce De Leon
786.401.6437
@Hermanoscantinagrill
Discover more exciting new places in Coral Gables, from gelato to tacos, and everything in between.