Gelato Festival America Visits Boston for the First Time

Gelato Festival America announced its first-ever visit to Boston for 1 and 2 June 2019, with the festival presented by Eataly Boston at Boylston Plaza and open from 11am to 7pm on both days.

Why Boston

Eataly Boston, inside the Prudential Center, was chosen as a fitting stage for a tradition that began with Bernardo Buontalenti, said to have created gelato in 15th-century Florence. Gelato Festival has spent ten years sharing that discovery around the world.

The festival is organised in collaboration with Carpigiani and Sigep (Italian Exhibition Group). Artisans and chefs compete with original flavours for a gold medal made by Florentine goldsmith Paolo Penko. Air Italy is the global partner.

Founder and president Gabriele Poli said the aim was to make sure every American tastes real Italian gelato and to spread artisan gelato culture across the world’s largest consumer market for frozen desserts. A wristband gave unlimited gelato, access to all activities and a vote for the favourite flavour and chef. The winner continued towards the Gelato Festival World Masters in Italy.

The 2019 US tour

• 16-17 March: Miami, Brickell City Centre (completed)
• 1-2 June: Boston, Boylston Plaza
• 17-18 August: Chicago, West Taylor Street
• 7-8 September: Washington, D.C., City Market at O
• 28-29 September: West Hollywood, Pacific Design Center

Boston, Chicago, West Hollywood and Washington were all new locations. In 2017, 50 gelato chefs produced over 13,500 pounds of gelato for more than 40,000 visitors and 150 gelato professionals, and the 2018 edition drew over 100,000 people.

About Italian gelato

Gelato dates back to 1559, when the Medici family commissioned Buontalenti to prepare a feast for the visiting king of Spain, and he created a frozen dessert from milk, eggs and honey. Compared with ice cream, gelato uses more milk than cream, so it has less fat, and it is served at a warmer temperature, which brings out flavour and keeps the texture smooth. The Gelato Museum in Bologna tells more of the story.

Flavia Morelli of Italian Exhibition Group said Sigep, held at Rimini Expo Centre (18-22 January 2020), is the group’s leading expo for artisan gelato, pastry, bakery and coffee. She noted over 1,000 Italian-style gelato outlets in the US, with turnover expected to pass 500 million dollars in 2020.

What this means for gelato makers in Australia

Gelato’s story is a reminder that fresh, simple ingredients and the right technique win customers anywhere. Majors Group supplies Carpigiani gelato machines and ISA gelato cabinets to help you make and present it well.

Source: Carpigiani news. Rewritten for Australia by Majors Group.