FUUD: Milano Freezer in Manoa
By Cat
Yes, it's been open since last summer — when it made sense.
Now — with this chilly weather, variable winds and intermittent rain — eating gelato or frozen yogurt isn't on the top of my to-do list.
Except I crave it. And even in last night's sub-zero temperatures — OK, maybe it was about 75 degrees — I convinced the boyfriend to accompany me to Milano Freezer in Manoa Marketplace.
Outside Milano Freezer, which opened last summer.
I wasn't the only one hungry for gelato. Even an hour before closing, there was a line of customers.
Unlike other frozen yogurt places — I'm talking Yogurtland and Orange Tree — Milano Freezer also boasts gelato, the popular Italian frozen treat that has a lower fat content than ice cream. (It tends to have more sugar, though, which is good for me.)
Best part? All the gelato is made in-house. That ensures freshness and quality control. Sweet!
A dad and his two kids check out the gelato display case, which is always tempting.
Milano Freezer features gelato flavors such as amaretto, pistachio, coconut and lemon ice.
You can buy fro-yo and gelato in either 20- or 32-ounce containers, too.
And even cooler than that are the gelato sandwiches.
What I like about Milano Freezer — aside from the great customer service — is that everything here, from fro-yo to smoothies — are made with fresh ingredients every day. And the flavors change, too. Some days it offers passion fruit gelato. Other days it has latte-flavored fro-yo. You just never know.
Here are yesterday's flavors.
I'm a big fan of the chocolate gelato, which I like to top with mini M&Ms ($3.75 for a small 6-ounce cup, 75 cents for one topping).
The boyfriend tried two flavors: caramel and tirimisu, topped with Almond Roca.
I sampled the not-too-tart plain fro-yo topped with the new strawberry tapioca. A great combination!
In addition to candy toppings, Milano Freezer has a nice selection of fresh fruits and nuts. And for your die-hard mochi ball fans, they've got that, too.
The gelato here is smooth and perfectly sweet. Even the passion fruit flavor, which I had expected to be either too tart or too sweet, was nicely balanced.
I wound up getting chocolate gelato again — it was out of chocolate fro-yo — with pieces of white, chocolate and red velvet cake and fudge syrup. It was decadent — and the mini M&Ms were a little bit of an overkill. But I was happy.
It probably makes more sense to eat these tasty frozen treats when the weather isn't so chilly. But then again, when is it ever a bad time to eat great gelato?
Milano Freezer, Manoa Marketplace, 2752 Woodlawn Dr. (Also in the Westridge Shopping Center in 'Aiea) Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Phone: 988-7744. Follow on Twitter @milanofreezer or check out the blog Milano Freezer Hawaii.
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Follow Cat on Twitter @thedailydish or send her an e-mail at cat@thecatdish.com.
The Daily Dish
February 5th, 2010 at 1:23 am
Hi Cat. Believe it or not there are ice cream parlors and frozen yogurt shops open all year round in those "nasty-cold" locales in the Mainland. i've actually seen them. i think thats the best time to eat frozen yogurt...when its freezing out. When i go Costco,i get my frozen treat first then head straight to that walk-in fridge..bbrrrrr... and buy my fruits and veggies. Kiwi fruit makes for a great combo taste expolsion. Great pics as usual.Thats quite a bevy of M&M's,but they sure dont look like mini s to me! And some green ones too! u should just bring your jumbo-sized bag of M&M's from home and really go for it.Then double down on Milano's fresh blueberries! Have a nice weekend. BTW did u name your new i-pup yet? My Final suggestion---> Fro-Yo.
February 5th, 2010 at 1:32 am
The best thing after eating a frozen treat is snuggling up to the GF to get warm.
February 5th, 2010 at 2:41 am
Hmmm... not sure about the froufrou toppings. Reminds me of ColdStone, haha! I've been here a couple of times when in Manoa last and neither time did they have Nocciola (Hazlenut), which is a staple of gelato stands in Italy, not to mention my favorite. When I asked, they said they have it every now and then... I think they need to make it permanent!
Found this recipe:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rocco-dispirito/nocciola-gelato-hazelnut-gelato-recipe/index.html
February 5th, 2010 at 2:47 am
Oh, forgot to mention that I thought the gelato here was great! It rivals Gelateria on Cedar of King.
February 5th, 2010 at 4:33 am
The Fuud pics are a treat. Have noticed lots more advertising on, and on my way to, the Daily Dish blog the past month or so. I hope Cat is becoming the rich blogger. Maybe not Oprah-rich yet, but someday.
February 5th, 2010 at 6:34 am
Good morning Cat!
Fuud pixs Friday!
I want some too! Yummy
February 5th, 2010 at 8:00 am
At the Palo Alto gelato store the pistachio gelato was the bomb diggity. I would hit that like Ichiro hits the baseball.
However, call me old fashioned, but I cringe at seeing gelato with toppings on it. Why put some cheap toppings on a luxurious splurge of decadence? It's like putting a spoiler and neon lights on a lexus (sorry, Kalihi residents).
February 5th, 2010 at 8:30 am
Weather does not deter those who love frozen treats. Russians will line up all the way around the Kremlin in 20 below if there's ice cream to be had at the front of the line.
I like Milano Freezer 's fro-yo and that one at Hotel on the mall corner. I can never remember the name. I go there after a Govindja's trip (yeah, Hare Krishna to you too, pal. got any somosas today?)
February 5th, 2010 at 9:08 am
Last Thanksgiving, after lunch at Treetops (Paradise Park), we stopped by Milano Freezer on the way out of the valley. Turned on daughter #1 to gelato.
Then on Christmas day after lunch at Treetops again (the old folks like that place), we stopped by Milano Freezer yet again.
I think it's become a tradition. LOL
We always buy the frozen ones to take home. I go for Watermelon. Paula likes the Lychee. Daughter #1 enjoys the mixed fruit flavors. In fact, she was just saying the other night that we're due for a stop there soon. LOL
February 5th, 2010 at 11:03 am
I don't care how cold it is. I now have a craving for gelato.
February 5th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
WildeOscar: More advertising...? Hmm. Maybe I should renegotiate!
Rodney Lee: Treetops — that's somewhere I haven't been to in awhile. What's good there??
February 5th, 2010 at 11:23 pm
Went to the Westridge one a couple weeks ago. Had the cheesecake gelato ... Mmm! I'll be back when I'm on Oahu.
February 5th, 2010 at 11:23 pm
Btw - I heard about them via Twitter.
February 7th, 2010 at 7:09 am
I am a regular there and I wanted to share some goodtimes: there is a counter worker there named Tori who is a tiny sweetie pie that stands under 5'. She uses a 2' box to stand on so she can reach the gelatos just for you. Expect to get a blast from her and co workers: "Welcome to Milano Freezer!" If you don't see your fav, just ask and they just might have some in the back. If not, you might find them in the freezer. Altho the Gelato is great, I usually get the yogurt.
February 8th, 2010 at 11:52 am
Forget the ice cream that Tori sounds yummy
February 8th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
I used to work here before I applied for study abroad this semester and it's great to hear that so many people like Milano's. =) I'm definitely going back there to try that Mango yogurt--and I miss the gelato, too! I usually prefer the yogurts but I've been craving both since I've got here.
I hope that more people are turned on to Milano's and I also hope that more people will turn to the yogurts! They're very different from the other yogurt places are absolutely delish!
February 9th, 2010 at 10:42 am
I love Milano Freezer! Didn't realize they had gelato sandwiches...those look good! I've tried the lime ice gelato, which was quite refreshing...I prefer the gelato to the yogurt.
Reading this makes me want to go back...!
It's been a while...