FIRE AND ICE Autumn will arrive on September 23 and fall fashions have been in the stores forever, but as usual, the thermometer might as well be hanging in a sauna. What to do? Have the season-spanning drink known as an affogato—a shot of espresso poured over a scoop of gelato. This Italian treat can be found in Austin at Babbo’s, a new centrally located spot with a fireplace on its shady patio. In the clean-lined interior, you can get coffee drinks from Italian and American artisan roasters as well as some 35 homemade gelati and sorbetti (we’re hooked on the chocolate truffle and the lemon). At Talenti, in Dallas, sip and dip on cushy leather sofas while looking out on a walking trail that skirts the Highland Park neighborhood. For extra voltage, try this new place’s javatini, made with milk, coffee-flavored gelato, and a jolt of espresso. Houston’s Nundini Farms supplies that city’s best restaurants with its excellent Italian ice creams and coffees; it will supply you too at its no-frills Nundini Food Store in the North Shepherd warehouse area. If the word “affogato” doesn’t ring a bell, just explain and they’ll make one pronto.
