South Alamode Panini & Gelato Company

{South Alamode Panini & Gelato Company Owner Josh Biffle chats with customers in his Southtown location}

When I was in college, I played volleyball one summer in Italy and had the time of my life.  This was before international data plans were commonplace, so I was only able to touch base with friends and family via intermittent emails on shaky wifi every couple of days.  It made the trip even sweeter, I think, because I wasn’t caught up in anything but where I was at the present moment.  There was no pressure to Instagram photos of my favorite moments instantaneously, because Instagram didn’t even exist.

South Alamode Panini & Gelato Company

What I saw of Italy in the short time I was there was magical.  The people love life, food, and, as luck would have it for me, volleyball. 😉  And in keeping with my technology-free adventures, they also tend to soak things up a bit slower, and just enjoy the moment.  It takes a near miracle for me to find time to slow down these days, but I found a little slice of the Italian laissez-faire attitude in San Antonio’s Southtown district.  Within the Blue Star Arts Complex, owner Josh Biffle has opened South Alamode Panini & Gelato Company, which has its roots in the farmer’s market scene here in town.  Josh studied architecture in Italy, fell in love with his future wife there, and returned to the States inspired to bring some culinary romanticism back to his home country.  The restaurant now serves fresh paninis and savory gelato in an ultra-chic space.

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I stopped by the other day to sample the Caprese panini and had to hold myself back from immediately ordering a second or third.  The shop boasts an ever-changing variety of flavors, as well as homemade gelato recipes that pair unique ingredients for unforgettable taste bud temptations.  My personal favorite is the lemon cream mascarpone with its bright and sunny disposition that’s sure to put a smile on even the most begrudging of visitors.  Not that anyone would mind spending a few hours in the adorable space.  Can’t you just imagine setting up a laptop and getting an afternoon’s worth of work done here?

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South Alamode was also kind enough to provide the charcuterie and gelato samplings for my guests at the Haute in Texas launch party, and I couldn’t have been happier with how everything turned out.  It turns out they are pros at bringing Italy wherever it’s needed, be it their own shop or an event venue.  Every single person I talked to said the spread was delicious, fun, and memorable.  Three fantastic observations that any party planner wants to hear, if you ask me.

South Alamode Panine & Gelato Company

So if you’re in the mood for an Italian-inspired lunch, or you want to bring some gelato goodness to your next soirée, I can’t recommend South Alamode Panini & Gelato Company enough.  Tell them Haute in Texas sent you!

XO,

A

P.S. South Alamode was a sponsor of my launch party, and is an advertiser on Haute in Texas.  Don’t worry though, all opinions are my own!