Inspired by gelato’s history, which they traced back to first ever gelato recipe by Bernardo Buontalenti in 1559, the organizers of Gelato Festival started their event in Florence, Italy nearly 10 years ago. The events have been growing rapidly ever since, reaching all the way to the U.S.’s West Coast. We checked out the opening weekend of the Los Angeles Gelato Festival in late September to get a taste (or scoop) for ourselves — and learn more about the creamy concoction, and the Festival’s first-ever store.
How is gelato different from ice cream?
While gelato and ice-cream are incredibly similar, there are some key differences: Gelato is made with more milk and less cream, which gives it a smoother and creamier consistency, and is also served at a slightly higher temperature, making it softer. Also, gelato typically doesn’t use egg yolks, so very often is served as a vegan substitute to ice cream altogether.
The winner gelato by Stefano Mosi
What is the Gelato Festival?
The Gelato Festival is a global competition with minor tournaments in multiple cities around the world, all of which feed into the Gelato Festival World Masters. The 36 winners from each country-based tournament compete for the title of Best Gelato in the World in an Olympic-style event that’s held every four years. The next Gelato Festival World Masters will take place in 2021 in Italy.
Who competes and why?
Gelato chefs across the globe can sign up to compete on the Gelato Festival website. Registration is totally free.
The L.A. Gelato Festival 2019 winners
What happens at a Gelato Festival?
The most recent festival took place in West Hollywood, California, on September 29, and featured contestants from Canada, Mexico, Italy, California, and more. There were 10 competitors vying for gelato supremacy, and the winner was SEAMIST by Stefano Mosi of MOSI in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, who will now move on to compete for the United States championship. Events at the festival included gelato-making lessons, a gelato scoop stacking competition, a guess-the-flavor contest, DJ-spun tunes, and corporate sponsorships doling out gelato, coffee, olive oil, and other goodies.
Where can you try all the Gelato Festival winners?
The Gelato Festival’s first-ever store recently opened in West Hollywood, and offers stocks a rotating supply of treats by all the Gelato Festival winners from all the competitions. So, if you can’t make it to Japan or Florence to try them in person, Los Angeles is the next best thing.
Seamist by Stefano Mosi
Where else does the festival take place?
There are Gelato Festivals all over the world; this year alone there have been events in Miami, Florence, Rome, Berlin, Boston, London, Yokohama, Los Angeles, and Milan.
Where and when is the next competition?
The next Gelato Festival takes place in Barcelona, Spain, on October 5 and 6, and will feature 16 gelato chefs competing for the best of Spain.