Two gelato artisans from Dubai took home two different prizes at the grand finale of the Gelato World Tour in Rimini, Italy earlier this month. They competed with more than 20 other artisans from various regions around the world who had all won previous regional competitions to get to Rimini.
Claudio Bearesi and Cesare Cellie from Bacio Gelato won the Dubai leg of the Gelato World Tour in February. They brought their signature flavour Creamy Hazelnut to Rimini. Made with Italian hazelnuts, the gelato is topped with gianduia sauce and served on a puff pastry. In Rimini, they won the prize for People’s Honourable Mention.
Lorenzo Salvioni and Andrea Grandville from Dubai’s Cone Street Ice Cream received the highest score for ‘Special Technical Jury Mention’. They presented their gelato flavour called One Thousand and One..Snacks. It’s chocolate gelato made with Swiss chocolate, milk and cream and enhanced with infusions and flavours reminiscent of childhood.
More than 70,000 people visited the finale of the Gelato World Tour. More than 6,500kg of gelato was handcrafted by 24 competing artisans during the event. The World’s Best Geleato went to John and Sam Crowl of the Cow and the Moon Gelato/Coffee/Dessert Bar in Sydney, Australia. They won with their Almond Affogato gelato.
There are about 300 gelato shops in the Middle East – not quite as many as Italy’s 39,000. But now, at least, you know where to get the very best of it in Dubai.
• Bacio Gelato is in Al Barsha between the Mall of the Emirates and Lulu’s Hypermarket; call 04 323 2949. Cone Street Ice Cream is located at The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence; call 04 448 64 01.
sjohnson@thenational.ae
