We surely haven't been the only ones thirsting for ice cream throughout this long, sultry summer. Those cravings have been assuaged by regular doses of the superb gelati made by Grom. As of last month, there are now three outlets in Tokyo for these outstanding (and pricey) Italian ices, which many people rate as the finest in the world.
But, wonderful though they are, Grom's super-premium scoops have not been our absolute favorite this year. That accolade goes to The Market SE1, a brilliant little gelateria close to the Shonan coast in Enoshima. Open since last summer, this tiny place redefines the very meaning of hands-on artisan quality.
Working solo in a tiny kitchen little bigger than a closet, owner Yasuo Atarashi makes every single batch of the 10 different ice creams he sells, producing them fresh each day in limited quantities. Using milk from free-range Brown Swiss cows in Oku-Izumo (Shimane Prefecture), he changes his lineup virtually every day — and they're so popular they often sell out by early afternoon.
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