V-Day Gelato and Sorbet round up!

Love is in the air today! From the dozens of roses that have hit our offices to the cupcakes and cookies, today is a bit sweeter. Which of course, we don’t mind at all since we’re known for our sweet desserts! Is your restaurant serving a special dessert tonight? Many desserts  are being offered tonight including some of our Valentine-inspired flavors throughout the country:

- Chocolate Chili Pepper Gelato

- Chocolate Sorbet

- Raspberry Chocolate Truffle Gelato

- Chocolate Cherry Truffle Gelato

- Snickerdoodle Gelato

- Mint Kiss Gelato

- Dark Italian Cherry Gelato

Offering tailored holiday flavors, renaming classics and innovating existing flavors with a simple inclusion are all great ways to increase sales for your gelateria or restaurant. Whether in a dipping cabinet, or back-of-the-house, try offering a themed dessert. As we look forward on the calendar, St. Patty’s Day is the next big holiday for the nation (here in the south, we make a pit stop at Mardi Gras). Green gelato flavors such as Mint Chocolate and Pistachio come to mind. To maximize sales, try renaming the flavors to appeal to your customer’s holiday spirit. The more creative, the better! In Italy, pistachios are often referred to as ”Oro Verde”, which translates to Green Gold. How perfect- who knew a pot of gold could be the crown jewel of your gelato collection?! With a rainbow of flavors leading to the ‘pot of gold’, it’s easier to get into holiday spirit than you think. Get creative, and as always, if you’d like some ideas or expertise, contact us for more information!

Happy National Frozen Yogurt Day, and Happy Nutella Day!

Two of the things we love here at G.S. Gelato- froyo and Nutella! So you can bet we were excited when the national days of celebration were on the SAME day! We’ve even gone so far as to make Nutella Yogurt for our Yogurtiamo line!

For today, I want to grace your presence with true Italian eye candy. In the spirit of celebrating, go out and grab some froyo today, or add Nutella to one of your recipes! Send us your pics, and we’ll feature them on our Facebook and Twitter!

Delizioso!

Self Serve Gelato

If you’ve been ALIVE for the past year, you’ve seen frozen yogurt shops. Even in less populated cities, it seems froyo shops are popping up on every corner. Frozen yogurt has been a ‘fad’ throughout the years, always gaining popularity and then fading. This time around, there has been much more longevity in the industry, as consumers are more health conscious than ever before and are looking for a way to indulge without breaking the calorie bank.

Last year, G.S. Gelato introduced a new member of the family, Yogurtiamo- artisan yogurt, ready-to-pour. As we were looking into frozen yogurt, known as this ‘fresh’, ‘natural’ and ‘healthy’ product, we realized something: it wasn’t always fresh, natural OR healthy. Sure, at first glance it looked great when looking at fat, calorie content, etc. However, taking a look at the ingredient profile, we realized many companies were using lactic acid or other non natural additives to provide the ‘tart’ yogurt flavor. Following our philosophy that what you eat should be good for you, we were led to the creation of Yogurtiamo, an all natural, ready to pour liquid yogurt, made using no preservatives. The taste is great, and it’s a product you can feel good about eating.

Since getting our feet wet with frozen yogurt, we again saw a need in the market, which leads us to our newest endeavor- Soft Serve Gelato! Made to use in soft serve yogurt and ice cream machines, our gelato provides a whole new option for those who cant get enough frozen goodness!  Innovating a gelato for use in soft serve machines is an exciting way to offer our clients a differentiation for their consumers.

In addition to the new gelato line, Yogurtiamo has also created a full sorbet line and expanded their line of natural yogurts. The gelato and sorbet is available in some of G.S. Gelato’s signature flavors, such as Caramel Sea Salt and Tiramisu, Blood Orange and Mango. The new yogurt lines offer seasonal favorites like Candy Cane and classics like Red Velvet, Tart and Cheesecake Classico. To view the complete list, visit the Yogurtiamo website, or call us for more information.

Can’t wait to find our new gelato in a froyo store near you? Email us and let us know where you would like to see us!

Until Next time- Ciao!

Caramel Sea Salt

In honor of our newest flavor available for retail, Caramel Sea Salt, we’d like to toast to all things Caramel!

Our love of caramel has been as true as our love for gelato and sorbet. We’ve played with the sweet treat in flavors like Dulce de Leche, Cremé Caramel and Snickers & Cream, just to name a few. Caramel plays a very sweet note in any gelato and creates a taste that is unique, creamy and most of all delicious!

Our newest flavor takes all that caramel has to offer and combines it with Mediterannean Sea Salt. The taste of the salt open your taste buds to experience the true richness of the caramel. Many people, when they hear “Caramel Sea Salt” become intrigued and/or confused. Those often confused don’t understand the appeal of salty meets sweet. We then remind them of a chocolate covered pretzel, putting salt onto fresh fruit, cinnamon sugar pretzels, etc. Suddenly, they understand! It’s the fusion of the two that creates a taste so decadent, you crave more and more!

To share our love with all things caramel, we’d like to share two of our favorite recipes. These are easy to execute in a restaurant or in the comfort of your own home. Click on the links below to open a printable recipe card. To view our entire recipe collection, visit our Resource page. If you’d like any more information, or would like for us to customize a recipe specificially for you, please Contact Us.

Dulce de Leche Lava Cake

Gelato Affogato (substitute Tiramisu gelato, for Caramel Sea Salt- Starbucks, who?)

And to end, some eye candy. Caramel in all it’s goodness. Enjoy!

   

Trends in Gelato 2012

With the newness of the year still fresh in our minds, and spring and summer just around the corner, many companies are gearing up for another busy production season. G.S. Gelato is no exception. With the new year comes a chance for innovation, renewal and above all else growth. In the dust of 2011, we’ve seen many recaps of the year and predicitions for the new year. This includes everything from food trends to fashion; from recipes to technology. In the spirit of ‘trending’, we’ve put together a quick list of 2012 predictions for where gelato is going (and growing).

1. Fusion- As far as flavors go, fusion is the name of the game. Salty and Sweet. Traditional and Modern. Italy and The Caribbeans (Chocolate Chilli Pepper, anyone?). 2012 is all about mixing and matching flavors uncommonly paired. When the two worlds collide, the result is, as we say “Magnifico!” In honor of all that fusion has to offer, our new flavor for retail is a fusion of taste all on it’s own…. any guesses?

2. Enjoying from the comfort of your own home- In the past few years, gelato has made a name for itself in retail. Most major grocery chains carry some form of gelato and sorbet, however there’s still not much shelf space devoted to the healthy ice cream alternative. Expect to see gelato increase in frozen door visibility, with more brands crossing over in the category, and existing gelato brands increasing shelf space. By the end of 2012, we think gelato will be available in club packs, specialty store and generally more “mainstream”.

3. Plated Desserts- Restaurants are catching on to gelato as not only a culinary innovation, but also as a unique addition to their evolving dessert menu. With bold flavors and endless recipe creations, gelato is a perfect fit for menus across the country, from quick serve to formal dining. With our authentic gelato, we can even train how to mold and sculpt to create a dessert that appeals to both the eyes and tastebuds. For more information on our training programs, visit here.

4. Gelateria Americana- With new gelato shops popping up throughout the country, it’s no surprise that each has their own brand and identity. We forsee a modern twist on the idea of gelateria, and believe we will see dipping cabinets popping up in chain restaurants, bakeries, markets and more. As gelato continues to gain popularity, don’t be surprised when top names in the industry play with the idea of adding a ‘gelateria’ right in their existing businesses. Some will remain traditional Italian in positioning, and others will focus on the bold, bright colors to bring the attention of their customers and gain loyalty for their business.

5. Not just an Italian dessert- You’d have every reason to call us crazy if we told you authentic gelato was a way of the past. In fact, it would go against everything we stand for. However, although gelato is a true Italian tradition and we believe it should be made using only Italian equipment and pure, fresh ingredients, we see a need for an ice cream alternative and gelato fits the bill. With one third the fat of traditional ice cream, and fewer calories, gelato provides the perfect substitute for those looking to indulge without the unwanted guilt. Furthermore, sorbet is 100% fat free, and is ideal for those living a healthy lifestyle. Expect to see gelato positioned more and more as a healthy treat in the coming year.

6. Spirited- We end this glorious list with perhaps the most fun. You already know gelato has endless recipe options, but the addition of a spirit (or two) adds a whole realm of possibilities. Bars, nightclubs, restaurants and drink connoisseurs alike will treasure the flavorful options and minimal ingredients gelato or sorbet cocktails encompass. We’ve got a great one here. And here. Go out there and get creative! We’re always looking for new recipes, what’s your favorite cocktail creation?

With that, we say cheers to 2011! We look forward to what’s in store! As always, if you would like any information on how gelato is the perfect fit for you, visit our website, and contact us for more information.

Ciao!

“G-Free”- More than just a fad?

Recently, I read an article on Freep.com, saying that Gluten-free is the latest food fad. The article entails how “G-free” is the new carb-free. However, after looking more in depth at this subject, I am beginning to think that G-Free isn’t just a “fad”. There may be more to the G-Free diet than meets the eye.

People who have followed “carb-free”, “fat-free”, etc. diets have usually done it for one reason: to lose weight. Don’t quote me on this, but there aren’t many health benefits that come along with going ”fat-free” or carb-less rather than those that come from losing weight. Certain diets have been attributed to eliminating other diseases such as diabetes, but none that are specifically “fat free” or “carb-free”.

However, with gluten, a protein that is found in many cereals and breads, that is not the case. A G-Free diet is medically accepted treatment for patients with Celiac disease, an auto-immune disorder of the small intestine.

Of course, there are people who want to be “G-Free” because of the trend… there are also people who truly believe that gluten free diets are the keys to success for a healthy lifestyle.

Take Alicia Silverstone for example. She has been promoting her book and her new lifestyle, which is completely vegan and G-free. The Kind Diet, features recipes and lifestyle tips on how to make the most of your life while minimizing your carbon footprint. Her website, www.thekindlife.com is an open forum for people to discuss their lives and what they are doing to make a difference.

So whether you are “G-Free” because it’s the latest and greatest thing, or if you truly believe the diet is the reason you maintain your level of health, this is more than just a fading issue. It is a trend that is shaping America, while we shift our focus on regaining our lives back through healthy eating and exercise. There has been a huge continual shift in the retail market, as new products hit stores daily promoting the health benefits, and it will continue to be a trend. I don’t forsee this going away as the next big thing comes about. Sure it might fade, as do all trends, but will it disappear? Only time (and our health) will tell.

G.S. Gelato’s sorbets are naturally G-free, allergen free, dairy free and fat free. For more information visit www.gsgelato.com

Our Flavor of the Week — August 9th!

In our retail stores, we feature a various flavor of gelato weekly, to introduce flavors that we think are especially delicious.
This week is no different!

Stop by a cafe and try it today, or order online!
http://www.gsgelato.com • http://www.sangelatocafe.com

Retail Concept

Yes, we make some of the finest gelato in the land, but that’s not all we do.

From delicious panini to made-to-order pizzas, and from gelato to any number of hand-made coffee drinks, our retail concept, San Gelato Cafe, offers authentic Italian cuisine in a comfortable, upscale trendy setting.

Currently, you can find San Gelato Cafe along the sunny beaches of Northwest Florida in the Silver Sands Factory Outlet Stores and in Utah, in SoDa Row’s Daybreak Shopping Center. Many more locations are in the works, so keep an eye out. (That means you, Houston.)

If you’re interested in running your own San Gelato Cafe, check out our website (http://www.gsgelato.com) for more info on franchising, as well as the many other offerings we have!

Ciao!

Who are we?

If you’re asking yourself this question, you probably aren’t alone. We make gelato and sorbetto. Just kidding, that’s really too brief of a description of who we are.

G.S. Gelato was founded 14 years ago in Destin, FL when a couple from Italy emigrated to the U.S. with a dream: bring authentic Italian gelato to America. After a few years filled with hurdles, challenges and finally approvals from the FDA, their dream could come to reality.

Fast forward a few years to today. We, G.S. Gelato, now manufacture gelato for a variety of customers, and have distribution in Winn-Dixie stores, with many more outlets on the way.

Keep an eye our for G.S. Gelato the next time you’re at the store! And remember, if you can’t wait, you can always order online at : http://www.gsgelato.com

Ciao!

Introduction

Welcome to the official blog of G.S. Gelato and Desserts. You can find our delicious pints of gelato and sorbet in many stores and you can expect to find them in many more in the upcoming months. Keep checking this page, as we’ll update it regularly with new flavors, upcoming events that we’ll be at, general happenings around the factory, and much much more! For now, check out our official website to get your gelato fix: http://www.gsgelato.com

Ciao!