Luisa and Rudy Amadio, owners of both locations of Dolce Gelato, enjoy the romance of gelato, Italy's famous homemade frozen confection.

DOLCE GELATO , Location: Huntersville, Birkdale Village: 16916 Birkdale Commons. Phone: 704-892-3116, Fax: 704-892-3984 Dilworth: 1710 Kenilworth Ave., Suite 230. Phone: 704-332-7525, Fax: 704-332-3084 Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Details: Patio dining, catering and takeout; full menu served all day; limited menu of Italian wine and beer; gelato-to-go; and homemade gelato cakes (two days notice required). For more information, visit www.dolcegelato.com. Prices: For gelato - $1.90-$5.75; for salads and panini - $4.95-$6.95.

Faced with back-to-school sales and the end of lazy days at the pool, we may forget that it's still summer. But one of the season's simplest pleasures, ice cream, can be enjoyed year round.

One of the newest places in town is Dolce Gelato with locations in Charlotte's Dilworth neighborhood and Huntersville's Birkdale shopping area. This year marks the first full summer season for both locations of Dolce Gelato, and, the two shops, or gelaterie as they would be called in Italy, have been met with rave reviews.

If you haven't tried this wonderful, cool and creamy frozen treat, gelato is basically Italian ice cream. With its roots in the 16th century Italian court of the di Medicis, gelato has a colorful history. When she married, Catherine di Medici took the recipe with her to France, and although European powers tried to keep the recipe and process a royal secret, word of this frozen confection quickly traveled around the world. Real gelato is made with fresh, all natural ingredients and then frozen much like other ice creams but at a slightly higher temperature, resulting in a soft, smooth texture. At Dolce Gelato, the gelato is made fresh daily with imported Italian ingredients, much the way it's done in Italy. Owners Luisa and Rudy Amadio make more than 100 different kinds of gelato, offering a variety of 36 flavors every day. The Amadios honed their gelatomaking skills in Italy and like the authentic ice cream of their homeland, their gelato contains no preservatives, artificial flavorings or colorings.

Sampling is not only allowed, it is encouraged. But it's easy to fill up on the samples, generously served in scoopfuls on cute, colorful plastic spoons.

The fruit gelato is fat- and dairy-free and is as perfect for an intermezzo course or palate cleanser in the middle of a big meal as it is for a late afternoon treat in a cone or cup. Dolce Gelato also carries a variety of specially made sugar-free gelato. Calorie counters will be glad to know that even the "sugar-full" gelato made at Dolce Gelato has less than half the fat of premium ice creams and every bit as much flavor.

Scoops of your favorite flavors are served one at a time or in combinations in cones or cups in various sizes. Make your own gelato sundae with your pick of up to four flavors, toppings and whipped cream - perfect for several to share. As good as the gelato is - and it is great - the thing that sets Dolce Gelato apart from other ice cream parlors is the rest of the menu. In addition to the popular gelatos, Dolce also offers a nice selection of savory fare and a small spattering of Italian beers and wines. Look for a variety of ready-to-eat offerings in the case at the counter or have your favorite sandwich made to order.

Choices range from sandwiches, served cold or grilled hot as panini, fresh crispy salads and an assortment of homemade Italian cakes and pastries, coffees and canned Italian sodas. As far as the sandwiches go, the hot, grilled panini is my favorite. Choose from nearly a dozen selections, ranging from the Verde or veggie panini filled with marinated mixed vegetables like eggplant, tomatoes, and mushrooms with provolone cheese, sundried tomato mayonnaise and lettuce to the Antipasto filled with Genoa salami, ham, mortadella, Swiss cheese, a vinaigrette dressing, lettuce and tomato.

Another favorite is the Prosciutto made with fresh mozzarella, prosciutto di Parma, tomatoes, lettuces and vinaigrette. There is also a smoked turkey panini called Toscano, a roast beef panini called Fiorentino, and a panini called Caprese with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil pesto.

RATING SCALE Excellent, a must try. Above average, worth consideration. Average, but nothing spectacular. Just okay. Poor, not recommended.

Sandwiches, hot or cold come with chips. My recommendation: Skip the chips and try one of the tasty homemade side salads. Select from the Tuscan white bean salad, with marinated white beans and onion, or a tomato salad with bread cubes, tomatoes, cucumbers and onion all dressed with a balsamic vinaigrette.

Sandwiches and salads may leave you too full for dessert, so if you'd like to enjoy your gelato at home, Dolce's Gelato-to-go is hand-packed in special Styrofoam containers designed to keep your purchase cold and frozen for an hour or two.

The gelato at Dolce Gelato is made fresh in-house several days a week, kept frozen and scooped to order.

Well-known Charlotte restaurant critic, food writer, cooking instructor and connoisseur of food and wine, Heidi Edidin writes "South Charlotte Weekly: Culinary Corner," a restaurant review or food feature that appears weekly. Contact Heidi with questions and restaurant, food or story ideas by email at heidi@southcharlotteweekly.com.

SCW photos by Melissa Cherry.

This article first appeared in "South Charlotte Weekly" on August 13, 2004. "South Charlotte Weekly" is a free, locally owned, independent newspaper that's "About the Community, For the Community," available every Thursday in South Charlotte and Uptown.

Copyright 2003 by South Charlotte Weekly and WSOCTV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.