Summer isn't quite over. Bring on the cold treats!

We're willing to bet that you've had the pleasure of feasting on a scoop (or two or three) of gelato. That delicious, sweet, dense frozen treat that is rich with flavour and melts in your mouth. How about granita? 

Granita and gelato are both Italian frozen desserts that are perfect for the hot Italian summers and satisfying the sweet tooth. So what's the difference between them?

Granita is a semi-frozen dessert made from sugar, water and various flavourings like fresh fruits and/or fruit juices. It's an icy treat with a courser texture in comparison to gelato. It originally comes from Sicily but it can be found throughout Italy.

Gelato is more like ice cream. It is made of milk, cream and sugar. Like granita, it is also flavoured with fruit but also with nut purees and other flavourings. It is creamier in comparison to granita but is not quite the same texture as ice cream. Why? Gelato has less air making it denser than ice cream. It also contains less fat and more flavouring.

Either way, granita and gelato are delicious all year round!

(Image via Pixabay)

Join La Piazza Dario for tasty Italian treats on our garden patio!

Although it's felt like summer here in Vancouver for well over a month now, summer only officially arrived just a few weeks back near the end of June. The Summer Solstice, which occurs every year on June 21st, brought about this official change in season. However, with the heat wave that our city has been experiencing since the beginning of June, we're almost certain that this seasonal change may have gone unnoticed!

Come celebrate summer and cool off from the heat with a delicious Italian meal on our beautiful garden patio. Once you're done enjoying your lunch or dinner, treat yourself to an ice cold dessert! Indulge in a scoop or two of gelato, or a zabaglione to satisfy those cool summer cravings. Looking for a lighter dessert that will still satisfy your sweet tooth and help you beat the heat? Order an Italian soda for a refreshing alternative!

Call 604.430.2195 now to make your reservation or reserve your table with us online at OpenTable.

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La Piazza Dario's top 5 things to do when visiting Rome, Italy.

You know the saying, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do!" If you have a trip planned to Rome, while you will most likely tour the most famous spots of Rome, such as the Colosseum and Pantheon, there are several other experiences we think are well worth having while in this grand city. Granted, some of our top five things to do when visiting Rome are just as famous, if not more so, than the aforementioned sites. However, others things that we suggest doing while in Rome are more about the experience than the place.

It can be easy to sign up for a sightseeing tour in a foreign country and forget about allowing yourself to fully experience what it's like to live in that country. However, experiencing Italy like a Italian is half the fun! With that said, below is a list of our top five things to do in Rome, from sightseeing, to meal suggestions. Enjoy!

Top 5 Things to Do "When in Rome"

1. Eat like an Italian: Indulge in the magnifico tastes of Italy, such as gelati and pasta fresca, all while dining out late (nobody eats dinner in Italy before 8:00 pm!), and enjoy the ambiance of la piazza!
2. Make a wish at the Fontana di Trevi: When in Rome, making a wish at the Fontana di Trevi, in English the Trevi Fountain, is a must. Legend has it that those who toss a coin into the fountain while making a wish, will one day return to Rome - and who doesn't want to return to Rome!
3. Enjoy the local spirits: Although drinking Italian wine, such as chianti, barolo or pinot grigio, may be a no brainer while visiting Italy, don't let the local Italian liquers pass you by either. Even if indulging in an afterdinner nightcap isn't something that you usually partake in, allow yourself to get lost in the flavours of Italy with Italian digestivo favourites, such as limoncello, amaro, or grappa.
4. Take a day trip to Pompeii: Discover a place frozen in time by the natural events that occurred because of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Although this trip will have you venturing outside of Rome, the historical impact it has to those who visit, make it worth leaving the city for a day.
5. Visit the Vatican: Even if you're not a religious person, a visit to the Vatican City is well worth it. Beautiful solid gold lettering can be found within the city, along with gorgeous architecture, history galore, the Swiss Guard and - need we say more? To top it all off, perhaps you'll see the Pope! Plus you'll be able to say that you've been to the world's smallest state.

Have you been to Italy? Share your favourite things to do when in Rome in the comments below!

If you're unable to get away to Rome, or Italy in general, in the near future, allow us to help satisfy some of the cravings! Join us for lunch or dinner and enjoy an authentic Italian meal by our head chef, Chef Claudio Ranallo, who was born and raised in Abruzzo, Italy.

(Image via Pixabay)

Discover how to eat like a true Italian!

Eat like an Italian & indulge in the traditional Italian meal structure.

With so many courses, it's no wonder that the meal structure of a traditional Italian meal remains a mystery to many of whom are not of Italian descent! However, although a traditional Italian meal can seem overwhelming on paper (or on a menu!), each course is perfectly balanced to compliment the next. So, come visit us at La Piazza Dario and dine like a true Italian with our guide to a traditional Italian meal below!

The Traditional Italian Meal Structure

Aperitivo: The aperitivo is close to the equivalent of the North American appetizer. Examples of an aperitivo are olives, cheese, etc. and are often accompanied with wine or other alcoholic drinks, such as prosecco.

Antipasto: An antipasto is a starter that follows the aperitivo. It is a lighter course than the first course and is often served cold.

Primo: As the first course, the primo usually consists of a non-meat dish, such as risotto, pasta, gnocchi, or soup.

Secondo: The secondo is the second course dish and includes different types of poultry, fish and/or red meat.

Contorno: A contorno is a side dish that is usually served alongside the secondo, however, each dish is always served on two separate plates. More often than not, a contorno is made up of vegetables.

Insalata: The insalata is normally a fresh garden salad.

Formaggi e frutta: Litterally, formaggi e frutta means cheese and fruit and is a dish that consists of locally made cheeses and whatever fresh fruit is in season.

Dolce: Dolce is the dessert of the meal, with popular dessert dishes being tiramisù, panna cotta, gelato or sorbetto, or cannoli.

Caffè: A caffè is traditionally had at the end of an Italian meal. The caffè of choice is, more often than not, an espresso.

Digestivo: The digestivo are drinks consumed at the end of the meal to help aid digestion. Popular digestivo drinks are grappa, amaro and limoncello.

(Image via Pixabay)

Five things you must do when visiting Italy in the Summer.

Got Italy and all things Italian on the brain? We definitely do! Italy is a beautiful place to visit year-round but if you've been dreaming of taking a trip to Italy or are in the midst of planning one this summer, here are five things you absolutely must do while you're there.

1. Go for a gondola ride in the canals of Venice. Although the city of Venice is a wondrous sight year-round, the gondola ride doesn't seem quite as magical if it's pouring rain or you're freezing!
   
   
   


2. Visit the island of Capri and boat into the Grotta Azzurra, or Blue Grotto, a cavern that casts a bright blue hue on its surrounding walls due to the reflection of the beautiful water below, lit up from the sunlight that peaks through small crevices in the cavern.
   
   
   


3. Do a wine tour in Tuscany. Nothing lights up the beauty of a wine route like the summer sun. The Chianti wine route is supposed to be breathtaking.
   
   
   


4. Visit the ancient ruins of Pompeii. Again, a tour around Pompeii is definitely more enjoyable when the weather is cooperative!
   
   
   


5. Cool off with authentic Italian gelati. Nothing taste quite as good in the summer heat as a double (or triple!) scoop of gelato. You know the saying..."When in Rome!"
   
   
   

If you're unable to get to Italy this summer, or anytime soon, come pay us a visit and we'll do our best to fill the void with some delicious, authentic Italian cuisine!

(Images via Pixabay, Pixabay, Pixabay, Pixabay & Pixabay)

Indulge yourself & stay cool with these tasty & refreshing Italian treats!

It's incredible to think that we are already halfway through this summer. For those of you who were able to get away for the August Long Weekend, we hope you had a relaxing getaway.

Unfortunately for most, it's back to reality this week even though the sun is still shining and the weather has remained hot. Personally, I think that this reality check of ours calls for a tasty treat or two - especially treats of the cold or frozen variety! Below are some ideas we came up with that we thought could help cool you down when you're not hard at work at your desk. ;)

1. Indulge in an Italian soda: an easy and refreshing drink to make at home or grab on your lunch break, this fizzy concoction is made with carbonated water and flavoured syrup. 
2. Put your espresso on ice: re-energize on your break and head back to the office feeling cooled off and ready for those afternoon meetings.
3. Make your own gelato: a fun weekend activity, especially with small kids! If you're not into the amount of work it takes though, you can always head down and visit us for some gelati or sorbetti!

(Image via Pixabay)

Cool down from those hot summer days with the frozen treat of gelato!

Summer is in full swing here in Vancouver and it is getting HOT! And what better way to cool off than with a delicious frozen treat? (Hint: there is none!)

Gelati (the plural form of gelato) or sorbetti (the plural form of sorbet) is the perfect solution to those sizzling summer days. Italian ice cream made with milk, rather than cream, gelato is my absolute favourite Italian dessert. My first experience tasting gelato was not unlike many of my other Italian cuisine experiences: it was love at first bite. I didn't quite understand the difference between North American ice cream and Italian gelato before I tried it, but there definitely is a difference. And given the option, I would pick gelato every time.

Fortunately, for me (and all you Vancouverite gelato lovers out there!) La Piazza Dario boasts a selection of delightful gelati and sorbetti flavours. Come give them a try one night after a hot day on the beach or after a hard day at the office.

Ice cream not your thing? Check out the rest of the divine Italian after-dinner treats we have.

(Image via Pexels)