Ciao Bella

Memorial Day is notorious for fickle weather but this past weekend, there was no disputing the fact that summer has finally arrived.

Glorious sun and temperatures in the high 80's made for a few hot days in the city. I found refuge by visiting Ciao Bella Gelato in Nolita (285 Mott Street). Hand-made in small batches, Ciao Bella has over 100 different flavors of gelato and sorbetti including Valrhona Chocolate, Hazelnut-Biscotti, Blackberry Cabernet and their award-winning Blood Orange. Seasonal blends are a real treat. Currently, Ciao Bella is offering two limited edition flavors: Chocolate Jalapeno and Coconut Almond Chip.

Founded in NY's Little Italy in 1983, Ciao Bella began with a few traditional family recipes from Torino and has grown to become one of the leading purveyors of artisanal ice cream in the U.S. Their gelato (Italian-style ice cream) has less fat and air by volume (denser) than regular ice cream. The sorbetti is 70-80% fruit, water and ice with no colorings or artificial ingredients as well as being dairy-free, fat-free and, in some cases, cholesterol-free.


As the dog days of New York summer fast approach, those of you without Hamptons houses better think of ways to get yourself to the beach. My advice? Be the house guest that brings the best gift and you'll get a return invitation.

Ciao Bella will ship customized assortments of gelato and sorbetti packed in dry ice via Fed-Ex Priority Overnight. You can choose from the 4, 6 or 8 pint options which range from $32.95 to $49.95 (exclusive of shipping). Perfect for dinner parties and summer BBQ's, Ciao Bella is a great gift for everyone in the house to enjoy. And, as a host, it's a simple and popular dessert to prepare. I like to use a very small scoop, mix and match flavors and colors in a chilled bowl, add fresh fruit, coconut or chocolate shavings and garnish with a sprig of mint.

Not all of Ciao Bella's flavors are available by the pint. Check their retail posts in Nolita, Upper East Side (27 East 92nd Street), Brooklyn (81 Washington Street) and Grand Central for a complete offering of products.

Say It With Flowers

Nothing says Spring more than a bouquet of fresh flowers. But, do you ever wonder what the flowers you send say about you?

Whether you are professing your undying love, sending your condolences, begging for forgiveness or thanking your hostess, the gift of flowers can be wonderfully emotive.

Yet, your heartfelt message may be inadvertently misunderstood if you send a scrawny arrangement covered in cheap plastic wrap from 1-800-Flowers. In this case, your gift may not effectively assuage the anger of a scorned lover nor console a wounded friend.

This communication breakdown can be easily remedied by finding a florist with impeccable taste that understands not only your personal style but your relationship needs.

With Mother's Day just around the corner (and what relationship could be more important than Mom), I reached out to one of my favorite florists, Elizabeth Ryan, (411 East 9th Street, 212-995-1111) who has done events for everyone from Paris Hilton to the Dalai Lama. She shares the following advice.

Try to give general characteristics of the recipient (preppy, modern, bohemian) and then, if possible, move on to more personal details (loves the beach, from the British countryside). A good florist should be able to interpret all the information he/she is given and create something that will appeal to the person's personality and style as well as convey the right message.


For Mother's Day, Elizabeth recommends a mixed spring arrangement (shown above), including a combination of any of the following flowers that are now in season: lilacs, peonies (her favorite and mine), roses, sweat peas, tulips, vibernum, lysianthus. Prices start at $65 with $15 delivery in Manhattan. Mother's Day orders will be sent on Saturday.

Another incredible floral designer is L'Olivier Floral Atelier (19 East 76th Street, 212-774-7676) who has another location downtown on 14th Street. They have a beautiful tulip arrangement in a rectangular vase for $150 which makes a strong visual statement (photo top center).


Finally, VSF (which stands for Very Special Flowers located on 204 West 10th Street, 212-206-7236) is popular with the fashion crowd. I especially like their tightly packed arrangements with Vandella roses, mini calla lilies and snowball hydrangeas all in creams and whites (shown above). The tone on tone is fresh and elegant. A great choice for anyone who appreciates the understated look.

It seems as though a talented florist can work wonders on all of your personal relationships by eloquently telling the people in your life just how your feel. Now, if only your therapist could understand.....