Oh. My. Gawdo! Seattle screams for creamy gelato

A few days ago, I learned that treat shop Chocolate Box near Pike Place Market is celebrating its one-year anniversary this month. That's great news, and I offer my heartfelt congratulations, but what really has me jumping for joy is the shop's benediction of the Oh-My-Gawdo, a sublime concoction for which I would happily suffer eternal brain freeze.

The OMG ($5) is composed of a scoop of stracciatella (a close cousin to chocolate chip) gelato; thick, rich Chocolat Vitale sipping chocolate; whipped cream; and chocolate bark. It's been an insider favorite at Chocolate Box for some time, but has now earned a permanent spot on the store's menu.

Also celebrating a first anniversary -- and serving up gelato -- is Tidbit, which NWsource readers recently voted the city's best new restaurant. The Capitol Hill eatery has just released a summer menu of gelato affogato -- creamy gelato drowned in a variety of delicious sauces and liqueurs.

Among the tantalizing offerings ($7-$9) are Affogato al Liquore di Gianduia (chocolate or cappuccino gelato covered in chocolate hazelnut liqueur) and Affogato al Limoncello (lemon gelato drowned in Limoncello liqueur). Dine at Tidbit Aug. 22-24 and receive a complimentary dessert with your meal.

In other frozen-treat news, Dreyer's Slow Churned Neighborhood Salute returns to Seattle this summer for the fourth year in a row. The company will provide an ice cream block party for seven local winners who told Dreyer's why their communities deserve a sweet "salute."

Seattle winners are Kim Albert of West Seattle; Francesca Merlini of Queen Anne; Christine Cameron of Northgate; Susannah Dhamdhere of Capitol Hill; Jen Witsoe of the Central District; and Susan McKee and Peggy Sturdivant of Ballard.

They'll receive a doorstep delivery of Dreyer's Slow Churned light ice cream for up to 100 people, plus scoops, tablecloths, nametags and all the fixings. Congratulations to the winning Seattle neighborhoods!

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