Orange Coast Magazine: Andrei’s Turned the New Girl Scout Cookie Into an Affogato
The new Exploremores cookie gets the dessert treatment at Andrei’s, where the Campfire Affogato layers gelato, espresso, and caramel for a campfire-inspired bite.
January 16, 2026
Tina Borgatta | January 16, 2026
If you’re among those folks who look forward to buying boxes of Girl Scout cookies each year, take note: Online and presales begin this month. And there’s a new addition to the sweet collection – Exploremores, a rocky road-inspired confection. To celebrate the introduction, Andrei’s Restaurant in Irvine this month will be serving up a caffeinated delight designed around the new cookie. It’s called the Campfire Affogato, a creation by Executive Chef Porfirio Gomez. “The cold sweetness of the gelato blends and balances perfectly with the warm, toasted notes of the Italian coffee,” he says. “Each bite is reminiscent of a winter evening around a campfire – the push and pull of warm and cold together. The crunch of the cookies and gooeyness of the caramel round out that wonderful feeling of s’mores around the fire.”
1 THE GELATO
Gomez uses Filo’s Artisanal Gelato for that luscious scoop at the center of this treat. This is no ordinary gelato. Owner Filippo “Filo” Cianciosi grew up in a family of gelato-makers who began hand-crafting the creamy frozen dessert more than 40 years ago in Rimini, a popular vacation spot in Italy. Filo followed in the family footsteps and traveled the world teaching the art of gelato-making before moving to the United States in 2017.
2 THE ESPRESSO
Of course, coffee is an important ingredient, and Gomez turns to Italy-based Lavazza for that. The company has been producing fine espresso and coffee blends since 1825. Founder Luigi Lavazza studied the art of blending beans from different regions around the world to achieve the best flavor profiles. Today, the company works with more than 4,000 collaborators from all over the globe and exports to more than 140 countries.
3 THE COOKIE
As the Girls Scouts’ newest offering, we predict the Exploremores will be in big demand when they premiere this month, especially among fans of rocky road ice cream. The creamy filling blends flavors of chocolate, marshmallow, and toasted almond between two chocolate cookies, adding a wondrously delicious crunch and complex flavor profile to the affogato. They’re delicious on their own, too.
4 FINISHING TOUCHES
A sprinkling of toasted organic almonds and a drizzle of brown butter-salted caramel sauce serve as the final tasty touches. Gomez says he loves the affogato’s diversity of flavors, textures, and temperatures. “It is complex, while maintaining a comforting feeling of warmth and familiarity,” he says. “Because of the warm espresso and cold gelato, the dessert needs to be made super-fresh and served immediately. Also, adult guests are invited to add a shot of Woodford Bourbon, to up the fun!”
