Tucked away at the end of a modest parade of shops in Salford is a tiny, charming ice cream parlor where customers line up on the street to enjoy the homemade ice cream.
Named after Taste IT after its Italian owners, the couple Simona and Gianfranco Fattore are working flat out to create traditional artisanal ice cream and hand-stretched pizzas in their shop on Blackfriars Road six evenings a week.
It opens from 5pm to 10pm on weekdays and from 3pm to 10pm on weekends – but demand is so great that they sometimes sell out within hours of opening.
It was such a hit that it is now rated Best Ice Cream in Greater Manchester on TripAdvisor.
Taste IT – the blue building at the end of a shop parade on Blackfriars Road
(Image: MEN)
Fans who have posted reviews praise it as “Salford’s Hidden Gem”, “Best Ice Cream in Manchester” and “Best Ice Cream Ever”.
There are flavors that change daily, from the delicious salted Bronte pistachio, ricotta and pears, oreo and kit kat, Sicilian indulgence, black cherry amarena, lotus biscoff and a range of vegan ice cream with peanut butter and strawberry.
You can try a single cone for £ 3.50 or a triple-vane cone for £ 8.50.
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On the subject of matching items
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On the subject of matching items
Mega fans can take home an entire tub of dreamy homemade items – large tubs cost £ 10.50 or oversized tubs cost £ 15.50.
Ice cream cones at Taste IT
(Image: Taste it)
Simona’s ice cream making skills were honed at the Italian Gelato School in Perugia, while husband Gianfranco developed his pizza making skills at the Italian University of Taste.
Together they would make a culinary paradise – and after moving from Naples in 2017, the couple were finally able to realize their dream of opening their own pizza and ice cream parlor in Salford.
At first people asked why they chose the more “hidden place” – where it’s easy to drive past and miss it – but they say they loved making it the base for Taste IT.
It is about a ten minute walk from Deansgate (note there is no parking near Taste IT), across from the large Renault garage at the junction with Trinity Way.
Gianfranco and Simona at Taste IT
(Image: Taste it)
Gianfranco, 37, says: “We opened here in 2017 and people have said why we chose this place? But guess what, it works for us.
“We love this place. Manchester changes every day, the food is so interesting that in Manchester you can travel around the world.”
Simona, 33, adds: “We love our customers, it’s always exciting and so multicultural here.”
The couple met while they were both working on a cruise ship in Italy, working together to make their dream of running their own grocery shop a reality.
Sourdough pizza at Taste IT
(Image: Taste it)
Simona is busy creating new flavors of ice cream that are made fresh on the premises every day, while Gianfranco creates the Italian sourdough pizzas, which come in a variety of flavors, starting at £ 6 for 10 “and from £ 8 for 12”.
Originally opened as a small coffee shop, they are now only available for takeout in order to comply with ongoing coronavirus restrictions.
And it’s not uncommon for a line of those who want to try it out to meander along busy Blackfriars Road on sunny weekends.
Simona said: “Last year the support was amazing, even during the lockdown.
(Image: Taste it)
“And we know we’ll be busy on a hot weekend.
“Some days we have to close earlier because we’ve just run out of everything we can do.”
Pizza flavors include Italian favorites like Napoli with anchovies, garlic, and black olives, and Siciliana with eggplant and fresh basil.
And Gianfranco has also created two specials as a nod to his new adopted home – the Manchester, which comes complete with beef balls, pancetta and hot peppers from £ 8.50, and the Salford, the chicken corn, roasted pepper mushrooms and jalapeno for a bit more offers kick from £ 9.
Taste IT is located at 69 Blackfriars Road, Salford, M3 7DB and is open Tuesday through Friday from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM