Sweet gelato kisses

It’s safe to say that Simone Romano knows gelato. His very first gig behind the counter of Gelateria San Pancrazio earned him the impressive title of “Best Gelaterie in Rome” from the illustrious Italian food and wine magazine Gambero Rosso. Three years ago, he came to Baton Rouge, making his icy-sweet magic at Latte e Miele, where many locals first got addicted to his absolutely authentic approach to the storied Italian treat. Now, he’s on Chimes Street, in a new shop that he hopes will offer, not just a genuine taste of his hometown’s culture, but a place where the tight-knit Baton Rouge community can bond. The new shop is called Bacio di Roma—“a kiss from Rome.” The interior, though still partially under construction, already has the bones of a modern, inviting café. The shop is in the midst of a “soft open,” with the grand opening not planned until the end of August; but though the space is unfinished, the gelato and coffee already show the practiced hand of a master craftsman at work. The coffee is an Italian brand called Lavazza, which has a smooth, nutty flavor, unsullied by bitterness. Fresh fig sorbetto made from local produce shares space in the front cooler with tiramisu gelato, an illustration of the Rome-via-Louisiana vibe that the finished café hopes to achieve. Click here to read more, and click here to see a photo gallery of Bacio di Roma.