I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for…Helado!

Spend even one day in Buenos Aires and you’ll quickly notice that locals – aka portenos – love their ice cream. And this is a serious, several-times-a-week love affair that we’re taking about. Here, day and night, families, friends, girlfriends, boyfriends are dipping into kilos of what they affectionaly know as, helado. From mom-and-pop gelato shops to big chains, you’ve got it all – even ice cream delivery. And among the plethora of tantalizing shops, one standout among the pack is Persicco.

With a handful of locations dotted around the city’s slickest neighborhoods, Persicco is a favorite for mastering that perfect combination of thick, creamy gelato-like ice cream with intense locally inspired flavors. Think chocoquinas – an indulgent mix of coffee-dipped chocolate cookies, dulce de leche ice cream, chocolate ice cream, and cream cheese – which was created to honor the traditional Argentine birthday cake. There’s also the must-have dulce de leche, thick as peanut butter, and a handful of more refreshing, fruit-based tastes like orange and peach. Whatever it is, you won’t be able to have just one.

At Persicco, the classic helado is given a modern twist that have portenos coming back for more – sometimes, several times a day. One taste and you will too.

Watch The Urban Grocer venture into the world of helado with Buenos Aires-based blogger, Maria Carra, on the Cooking Channel, throughout October. Check out a full list of air times here & be sure to set your DVR to record series!

[Photo via Bittermelon.]