Gelato Festival America Returns with an ‘All You Can Eat’ L.A. Extravaganza

I Scream, You Scream, We all scream for …Gelato!

Beginning on August 11, 2018 through October 2018, the second edition of Tuscany’s Gelato Festival America, will bring Italy’s rich heritage of artisan gelato to eight cities (twice as many locations than last year) – all the gelato you can eat in one day – with a stop in Los Angeles in September. The festival will kick off in Jersey City, New Jersey.

‘Sicily Orange Sunrise’ Blood Orange Sorbet by Maurizio Melani

Discover exciting new gelato flavors and become part of this new American tradition. (Spring Melody was the flavor that just won in London and it had floral and fruity notes, specifically peach, lemon and flowers!)

The Gelato Festival will spread awareness of real Italian artisanal gelato through a contest in which gelato artisans and chefs will compete with original gelato flavors they have created for the event.

Tropical Blast, Spicy Green Paradise, Sicily Orange Sunrise and Fresh Love were just a few of the flavors invented last year.

Be the first to discover this year’s new creations!

  • Ticket holders gain full access to Gelato Festival America for one day at the location for which they purchase tickets. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors (65+), $25 for kids (3 to 12 years old), and free for children under two years old.
  • Those who purchase tickets for the Gelato Festival online in advance receive a discounted price: $25 for adults and $20 for seniors and kids (must show ID at the gate!).
  • The all-access ticket will allow them to enjoy a scoop of each of the unique flavors created by the competing gelato chefs, the sponsored flavors, and flavors from Carpigiani’s Gelato University.
  • Ticket holders will be able to vote for their favorite competing gelato flavor, helping to decide the winner for each city. Their voting will comprise 50% of the decision; the rest is in the hands of the technical jury, who will judge the gelato based on presentation, flavor, and structure. Presale tickets can be found online at gelatofestivalamerica.com/ticket and on Eventbrite. Tickets will be sold at each venue as well.

The ticket is an all-access pass to all of the activities and reserved events of Gelato Festival America 2018, listed below.

  • Attend the Gelato School, where award-winning gelato artisans and experts will share what it takes to be a gelato chef and professional
  • Participate in the Gelato Eating Contest, where the five people to eat five cups of gelato the fastest will win a gallon of gelato!
  • Serve on the Kid¹s Jury, where children have the opportunity to question the chefs and vote for their favorite flavor. Know a young foodie who might be interested? Email info@gelatofestivalamerica.com

Last year, 50 gelato makers competed with unique gelato flavors to produce over 13,500 pounds of gelato to the delight of over 40,000 visitors and 150 gelato professionals who were present at the Festival in 2017. With the growth of Gelato Festival America, over 100,000 people are expected to attend the 2018 edition.

This year, the Festival will tour eight cities in the US including:

August 11-12
*Liberty State Park
200 Morris Pesin Dr, Jersey City, NJ 07305

August 18-19
Twenty Ninth Street
1710 29th St, Boulder, CO 80301

August 25-26
*Chicago Premium Outlets
1650 Premium Outlet Blvd, Aurora, IL 60502

September 8-9
*City Market at O
800 P St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Gelato Festival America in Washington DC is in association with
Toscana Promozione Turistica Agency

September 22-23
Los Angeles*
(Location TBD)

September 29-30
*Dallas Farmers Market
920 S Harwood St, Dallas, TX 75201

October 20-21 
Kierland Commons
15205 N Kierland Blvd Suite 150, Scottsdale, AZ 85254

October 27-28 
La Encantada
2905 E Skyline Dr, Tucson, AZ 85718

* new locations

Artisans and chefs will go through a rigorous selection process to compete in each city with a unique flavor specifically conceived for Gelato Festival America.

The winners will then compete in an American grand finale.

Ultimately, the remaining 36 competitors will vie for the title of World Champion in the Gelato Festival World Masters Final in Italy in 2021.

Gelato artisans and chefs who wish to compete can submit an application at:

gelatofestivalamerica.com/BE_FAMOUS, or write to team@gelatofestivalamerica.com for a chance to be selected.

About Italian Gelato
When visiting amazing, culturally rich cities like Florence and Rome, there is one treat sold on almost every corner ‹ authentic Italian gelato. Gelato’s heritage dates all the way back to 1559, in the Italian Renaissance, when the Medici family commissioned famous artist and architect Bernardo Buontalenti to prepare an opulent feast for the visiting king of Spain. For the special occasion, Buontalenti created a new frozen dessert, made from a few simple ingredients such as milk, eggs and honey. And thus the first gelato was created, and Buontalenti is now heralded as the inventor of this creamy Italian dessert.

Americans often wonder what the difference is between ice cream and gelato. The main difference is texture! The gelato¹s lighter texture comes from using more milk than cream, which also means less fat and fewer calories. It is stored at warmer temperatures, increasing the richness of the flavors and ensuring a smooth texture. Of course, there are also artisanal ice cream makers who also work every day to create fresh products in a unique American tradition.

About The Gelato Festival 
Since 2010, the Gelato Festival has had nine editions with more than 2,200 artisans competing in 64 festivals across Europe, traveling almost 30,000 miles. The mission of Gelato Festival America is to spread the culture of artisan Italian gelato in the US. Originating in Florence, Italy, Gelato Festival is an all-star line up of the biggest names in gelato artistry competing against one another with a one-time flavor they have created just for the festival. The event gives visitors the opportunity to experience the secrets of high-quality gelato, learn about the production techniques by watching the artisans at work in the laboratory, and taste all the competing flavors, voting for their favorite one.

Over the next three years, there will be 22 festivals and two American finals. In the end, the best three gelato chefs from the US will be selected to participate in the Gelato Festival World Masters Worldwide Finals in Italy in 2021.

The Gelato Festival is picking up where Renaissance artist Bernardo Buontalenti left off, spreading the culture of artisan Italian gelato throughout the world!

Thanks to the partners and sponsors of Gelato Festival America:

Carpigiani Corporation has been serving the foodservice market since 1946, as the leading manufacturer of gelato equipment in the world. In the US Carpigiani hosts the Frozen Dessert University, providing unparalleled professional education on frozen desserts for future gelato entrepreneurs. In 2012, they founded the Gelato Museum, in Bologna, dedicated to the history of gelato.

Gelato World Tour – Launched in May 2013, this international event, whose second edition culminated in the September 2017 Grand Finale, was created to spread the culture of gelato to the general public throughout the world. Starting in 2018, Gelato World Tour is a partner of Gelato Festival World Masters.

Sigep ­ Italian Exhibition Group is the International Trade Show of Artisan Gelato, Pastry, Bakery and the Coffee World of Italian Exhibition Group.

PreGel America ‹ PreGel America is a global developer, manufacturer, and distributor of specialty dessert ingredients, with North American headquarters in Charlotte, NC, and official supplier of gelato ingredients for Gelato Festival America.

WhyGelato.com is a gelato-inspired web resource created to spread the culture of gelato throughout the U.S. via consumer education and support of entrepreneurship in gelato-based specialty desserts.

ISA was founded in Umbria, in the heart of Italy, in 1963 and produces refrigerated display cabinets and custom furnishings for public premises in both its region and worldwide. It has established itself in professional refrigeration offering innovative products with the highest technology and reliability.

Toscana Promozione Turistica Agency – The Tuscany Regional Government Agency is responsible for promoting tourism. Gelato is one of the most iconic experiences of what is the true Tuscan style, made with elegant simplicity, creativity and love for details.  It is a symbol of the Tuscan lifestyle that is so loved by American travelers who today represent the second largest tourist market.

Packaging Sponsor: Cartoprint 

Paolo Penko – The creator of the Gelato Festival gold-plated Medals. An Italian jeweler located in Florence, Italy who creates unique handcrafted designs that connect with rich Italian culture.

iHeartRadio ­is a free, all-in-one streaming radio and digital music service with thousands of radio stations across every genre.

Sogno Toscano imports authentic Italian olive oil and other 100% natural Italian cooking products direct to the U.S. from its homonymous farm in Bolgheri, Tuscany.

Carpigiani and Sigep-Italian Exhibition Group are the festival’s strategic partners.


One response to “Gelato Festival America Returns with an ‘All You Can Eat’ L.A. Extravaganza”

  1. Gelato Festival Sets Up Permanent Shop in WEHO & Celebrates with September Event – Gia On The Move Avatar

    […] Design District is adding another international marquee name to its roster – the acclaimed Gelato Festival – the world’s most authoritative event dedicated to […]

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