The Venetian has become one of my favorite casinos to visit on the Las Vegas strip. It just seems like it has the best-of-the-best when it comes to shops, restaurants, and ambiance. One afternoon, I needed something cold to soothe my palate. What I found was Cocolini, an Italian gelato counter in the heart of the Grand Canal Shoppes in St. Mark’s Square in The Venetian casino.
I admit, the price for the small cup threw me for a loop. EXPENSIVE! I could have bought a pint of Ben & Jerry’s at the CVS near my resort for what I paid for the scoop of sorbet I ended up ordering. But I was craving and this was what I wanted. And Cocolini had quite the selection of flavors in both gelatos and sorbets to choose from. I had my work cut out for me.
It took awhile to finally get someone to wait on me. There was really no order to how people walked up to the counter, and the staff just picked who they felt like serving next. But when I finally voiced that I was next, I ordered the sugar-free strawberry sorbet. Not only is sorbet lactose free, but it’s fat free as well. WIN!
I paid the exhorbent price and went to take a seat on the steps looking out at St. Mark’s Square. I admit, the sorbet was good. It was creamier than a sorbet should be, however, but still…the flavor was what caught my attention. Rich, despite being sugar-free, and exploding with a fruity burst in each taste. That’s not always easy to do when something is sugar-free. I give Cocolini major props for that.
Since then, however, I have had a real Italian sorbet, and in comparison, Cocolini doesn’t even come close to the correct texture for this sweet treat. Yet, going into this blind, I enjoyed my sorbet, letting each scoop I took of it melt down on my tongue and allowed the flavor to linger as long as it could. It was one of the best sugar-free strawberry treats I have ever eaten, to be honest. Full of flavor and packing a WOW-factor punch to the untrained Italian palate.
The cost of the small cup I received, however, was definitely a minus. While I found the product they offered to be up-to-par taste-wise, I didn’t like the wallet-busting cost it came with. Definitely worth a try if you are seeking a cool, tasty treat while in Vegas…but know that it does come with a price. Next time, I think I’ll go to a more authentic gelato/sorbet shoppe and put my money into a more genuine experience.
The Celiathlete 