The best of Italian gelato and culture
The London Gelato Festival is backShowcasing the best of Italian hospitality in London
The 2016 London Gelato Festival, supported by the Italian Trade Commission (ICE), is where authentic Italian gelato masters are over from Italy as part of a European tour to put on a fantastic event in Old Spitalfields Market. They are all prizewinning gelatieri and are the best of the best.The event is wildly popular in Italy and attracts millions across the country. They are now rolling out across Europe and this is the second event in London following last year’s spectacular debut.The gelatieri are experimental – there are savoury flavours, sophisticated pairings and all the classics made fresh in the specially converted gelato trucks on site. They’ll be rolling into Spitalfields to serve the gelato, host a full timetable of masterclasses in the gelato lab and bring London the real thing.
The flavours available will be hugely varied, including fruity dairy-free sorbets, chunky dried fruit concoctions, varieties of rich chocolate combinations and of course those that are simple, thick and creamy, such as last year’s festival winner ‘La Dolce Vita’, created by Florence’s Gelateria Badiani. It’s a base of rich ‘Buontalenti’ (cream, eggs, milk and sugar) with swirls of rich chocolate hazelnut sauce. They all show off the best of Italian produce, and the makers do not hold back on inventiveness.The idea of the masterclasses is to educate on the difference between real traditional Italian gelato and ice cream. So each master will teach the audience about the inspiration, the exact ingredients they use and why, people can see and taste everything. Then they’ll make it, pass round samples, so people see the whole process and appreciate how simple is all is, yet how important the quality of the ingredients. There will be different themes, like fruit, dried fruit, chocolate, sorbet etc, and will include different kinds of desserts and cocktails.
Dates and times:• Friday 24th June – Saturday 2nd July: Midday-8pm• Sunday 3rd July: Midday-7pm To get involved or for more information please contact Amy Lainchbury