Eat, Lick, Love

AC alone won’t keep you cool. You need to beat the heat with a refreshing and delicious treat (because you deserve it, and so do the kids).

Whether your craving is for ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt or smoothies, chill out with a visit to one of these tried-and-true (and some new) Toronto spots.

The Mad Italian is an authentic Italian gelato shop that also serves wine, beer, liqueurs and daiquiris. (That’s as mad as the Italian who opened the place.) This newest gelato eatery on the Bayview strip is run by a family of second-generation gelato bar owners (the owner’s mother still makes the homemade biscotti they sell) and everything is made with ingredients imported from Italy. With lots of room for stroller parking, now you can have your ice cream and…a drink, too! Also in the area: Il Gelatiere Artigianale, 647 Mount Pleasant Ave.; Hollywood Gelato, 1640 Bayview Ave.

Despite its locale in one of Toronto’s toniest neighbourhoods, The Village Chill is essentially an unassuming walk-up ice-cream window that serves homemade ice cream and soft-serve yogurt. It also claims to be the home of Canada’s first version of Red Mango or Pinkberry—the New York-based soft-serve yogurt chains that have an obsessive following. The Village Chill’s version is called Mangosteen and while its tartness may be an acquired taste for some (try the Green Tea perhaps) their other ice cream and yogurt offerings will absolutely please. Also in the area:Dutch Dreams, 78 Vaughan Rd.

Speaking of Pinkberry, Cefiore, the California-based minimalist and modern soft-serve frozen yogurt, gelato and smoothie shop, has surfaced in Toronto. The location in the lively Annex neighbourhood offers four flavours of natural, preservative-free, gluten-free, kosher yogurt. Whether raspberry pomegranate, pineapple tart, acai berry or original, you can top off your choice with fresh fruit (raspberries, pineapple, pomegranate kernels), candy (Oreos, gummy bears) or flavoured syrups. They also serve great gelato and smoothies and something we tried for the first time: snow ice. Think an upscale and healthier snow cone mixed with yogurt. ‘Ce fiore’ yourself how good it is! Also in the area: Greg’s Ice Cream, 750 Spadina Ave.

Remember LBK (life before kids) when you would stay out late on College Street and enjoy the lovely patios and wine bars? Well, your bedtime may be earlier but you can still be cool—albeit with a homemade waffle cone filled with delicious Big Chill ice cream. This once-small spot at the end of Manning (at College) has expanded in recent years and now takes over the whole side of the building. Don’t let the big line ups deter you from visiting though, as The Big Chill caters to kids with its fun, interior cow-themed décor, colourful chairs and fun kid cars to sit in outside. Also in the area: Sicilian Sidewalk Café, 712 College St.

Sometimes a trip to a new ‘hood in your own city (with treat included) is enough to impress the kids, at least.

Ahhh, it feels so good to be cool.

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