Where: 1187 Coast Village Rd., Montecito; 969-7020.
What: Montecito’s Lower Village spot for house-made gelato from seasonal and locally sourced fruits.
How Much: $3.45 for one scoop, $4.95 for two.
The Dish: A stairway to a sunken courtyard on Coast Village Road leads to Montecito’s own Here’s the Scoop, where house-made gelato is—you guessed it—scooped. Since flavors are churned from fresh and organic ingredients, they change with the season, depending upon what fruits are available at the Farmers Market. Fresh strawberries make it into the fragola (sorbet), and Pluot sorbet (a splice of plum and apricot) screams Central Coast local. Co-owners Bob and Ellie Patterson oversee an attentive staff and interface with area farmers, who provide inspiration for the rotating seasonal menus. Sweet and creamy base flavors, made with certified organic cream and milk, hold candies and cookies, from chocolate-covered mint (stracciatella) to milky Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.