Gelato Festival World Masters, the main category tournament with partners Carpigiani and Sigep - Italian Exhibition Group, is on its new journey around the world for the period of time 2022-2025 searching for the world’s best gelato. After coming to Belgium in 2023 and 2024, the traveling competition came to Belgium for the third year in a row. On February 25, at the Carpigiani Benelux headquarters in Zandhoven, 24 gelato artisans took part in the sweetest challenge of the year. 

The winning gelato artisans and the best gelato artisans in Belgium for 2025 are:

First place
José Romero of Pepe’s in Brussels with the flavor “Comme une ruche,” a luscious beeswax gelato complemented by a crunchy almond and pollen nougatine, finished with a vibrant yuzu coulis.

Second place
Jasper Braeckman of Kreem by De Petrushoeve in Beervelde with the flavor “Pasta Pesto van Brandnetel,” a bold stinging nettle pesto gelato enriched with toasted pine nuts and parmesan cheese.

Third place
Peter Roman of Glacerie Peter in Pecq with the flavor “Gelato affumicato,” a delicately smoked fiordilatte gelato enhanced with a touch of smoked Himalayan salt and a hint of lemon juice.

Fourth place
Gert Verschelde of ‘t Zoet gemoed in Zomergem with the flavor “Peerfect Witlof,” a unique blend of blue cheese, pear, and chicory in a refined gelato creation.

The four selected gelato artisans will go on to the Belgian Finals of Gelato Festival World Masters that will take place in Italy at the Carpigiani headquarters in October 2025. Flavor, structure, creativity and presentation are the four parameters used for the evaluation, highlighting the choice of ingredients, the craftsmanship in elaborating the recipe and the visual impact of the gelato (see below the full list of participants). 

The jury was composed of: 
- Bruno Van Vaerenbergh, Pastry chef and International culinary consultant for DEBIC België;
- Bram Hullebroeck, Chef chocolatier and Instructor at the Belgian Chocolate School;
- Dylan Vandenberge, Sous chef and Chef-patissier at three-starred Boury restaurant in Roeselare;
- Sebastien Trudelle, Meilleur Ouvrier de France and owner of Smores.

Gelato Festival debuted in Florence in 2010, inspired by the creation of the first gelato recipe by the versatile architect Bernardo Buontalenti in 1559. Since then, the event has expanded its borders, first to the rest of Italy, then to Europe and – starting in 2017 – the United States, with a total of 80 Festi-vals held, before embracing the entire planet with the world championship of Gelato Festival World Masters 2021, which concluded in December 2021 - with the victory of Adam Fazekas from Buda-pest - and saw a record of 3,500 gelato artisans judged by international juries. 

GELATO FESTIVAL WORLD MASTERS 
Belgium Challenge 
February, 25th 2025
Zandhoven – Carpigiani Benelux

LIST OF PARTICIPATING FLAVORS

WINNERS

First place
José Romero of Pepe’s in Brussels with the flavor “Comme une ruche”

Second place
Jasper Braeckman of Kreem by De Petrushoeve in Beervelde with the flavor “Pasta Pesto van Brandnetel”

Third place
Peter Roman of Glacerie Peter in Pecq with the flavor “Gelato affumicato”

Fourth place
Gert Verschelde of ‘t Zoet gemoed in Zomergem with the flavor “Peerfect Witlof”
 
List of the other participants:

• Wim Van Houcke of Gelati Van Houcke in Bornem with the flavor “Yogurt mostarda mela e pera”
• Kurt Florkin of Gritje Kokx in Antwerp with the flavor “Cordero salvaje”
• Peter Van Loock of SuPe in Mechelen with the flavor “Oma’s Apfelstrudel”
• Pascal Pontone of Glacier Limont Blanc in Limont with the flavor “Citrus Ebène” 
• Dominique Amez of X-Kwisit in Diksmuide with the flavor “Chocolate mousse”
• Giuseppe Buzza of Glacier Giuseppe in Saint Nicholas with the flavor “Chocosplash”
• Laetitia Joiris of Marasti Chocolatier in Stembert with the flavor “Piura”
• Anne-Chantal Dupont of Mystère et Boule de Glace in Lesdain with the flavor « Mystère de l’Alambra»
• Rob Proost of Barijs in Lichtaart with the flavor “Saffraan Winter honing”
• Roberto Milanese of Milanese Gelato in Antwerp with the flavor “Italian garden”
• Jelle Haven of Gelato Queen in Oostkamp with the flavor “Smoked vanilla”
• Junior Van Calster of Il Pinguino in Leuven with the flavor “Passion for pepper”
• Mathieu Eyckmans of Oyya in Bruges with the flavor “Dolce fuoco”
• Hilde Gos of IceLab NiceCream Creations in Antwerp with the flavor “Mamma mia”
• Tom Van Den Berge of Delicioso in Burst with the flavor “Ube mystique”
• Melanie Soenen of Madame Jeanne in Ichtegem with the flavor “Coquito del fuego”
• Michele Mallaci Bocchio of Gelateria dell’Osteria Michele in Kortenberg with the flavor “Zuppa inglese”
• Kim Smet of Luca’s ijs in Hamme with the flavor “Funky Mokey”
• Maryne Poppe of Tendance Glacée in Flawinne with the flavor “Zaccoco”
• Jelle Bories of Sorbetes Ni Manong Jelle of Saint Nicholas with the flavor “Las Pinas”