A mouthful of bliss

In the midst of our nasty little heat wave, the Corvallist family stopped in for dinner at Francesco's Gelato Caffé. After an amazing half panini with spiced turkey on foccacia and a cup of divine lentil soup, I remembered that I need to eat there more often... and that I really should point people in the direction of 208 S.W. 2nd St so that they can share the love.

The panini and soup are always good, but the place has "gelato" in its name for a reason. This is real gelato, folks, not the imitation gelatin crap you'll find in other so-called gelaterias in the Eugene area. The owners decided to open Francesco's after a trip to Italy, and they took a special class to learn the secrets behind making real gelato. All their ingredients are imported from Italy. After a trip to Europe in which my traveling partner and I managed to eat at every single gelateria in Italy and Germany (or so it seemed), I have to agree that this is the real thing. My favorite is the lemon. They also have truffles that are pretty amazing. If you order one of those, it comes on its own plate drizzled in chocolate with a tiny truffle fork.

The food is reason enough to go, but the restaurant is also just lovely. The owners managed to create a little Tuscan café with marble floors and tile rooflets. Plus, a full dinner with beverages and heavenly dessert for three cost less than $30 including tip. Sure beats some of the other newer restaurants in town that apparently believe you have to charge 50% more than the rest of the restaurants in town so people will believe your food is better than it actually is.

Mangia!