Hi! My name is Stephanie Zonis, and welcome to the June, 2002 edition of "For Chocolate Lovers Only". Each month, you'll find recipes, tips, and recommendations on chocolate specialties. Happy Father's Day to my Dad and all you other Dads out there!

Chocolate Recommendation of the Month: Think of it as gelato and sorbetto without limits—or rather, limited solely by your imagination and tastes. Palazzolo's Gourmet Gelatos & Sorbettos will customize flavors to your specifications, if you wish. Then again, they may already have thought of almost every possible flavor for a frozen dessert. How about 9 different vanillas or 12 varieties of coffee? 26 distinct types of chocolate are on their standard roster—and that's just the gelato! If dark chocolate raspberry swirl or white chocolate poppy seed are too mundane for you, try a spiced hazelnut fig gelato or a black cherry zinfandel sorbetto. The list of flavors this small company has created is incredible, and they'll ship directly to consumers using a reliable overnight service. The minimum size is a 172 ounce tub, which sounds huge but is only equivalent to 1-1/3 gallons, so it can fit in a home freezer.

None of this would be worth anything if these products didn't taste good, but I am here to reassure you on that score. Admirably, Palazzolo's Gelatos & Sorbettos does not use artificial flavorings; their flavoring sources are what you'd use to make these products. The coffee flavors are made from 100% pure coffee—no syrups. The chocolates used are real, and of very good quality. And you can taste the fruits and liqueurs in their other frozen delights. If you're looking to add some fun to the annual block party, want something unique for a family celebration, or are thinking about reviving the splendid all-American custom of an ice cream social, Palazzolo's Gelatos & Sorbettos would be a great place to start your search. You can find them online at www.4gelato.com, or call them (toll free) at 1-800-4-GELATO.

Do you have a comment, question, or suggestion? I'd like your input into this column. You can reach me at: sdziadwm@nac.net; please put something about chocolate into the subject line or I might think you're spamming me. Thank you!