Gelato Festival World Masters, the main category tournament with partners Carpigiani and Sigep - Italian Exhibition Group, is on its new journey around the globe searching for the world’s best gelato. The second American stop of 2024 was held in Houston on April 11 where 12 gelato and ice cream chefs took part in the sweetest competition of the year hosted at Coolers Inc.’s, Carpigiani distributor.

The winning chefs and the best gelato and ice cream artisans in Texas for 2024 are:

First place
Francia Magsaysay of Francy’s Artisanal Ice Cream in Bergenfield (NJ) with the flavor “Passion fruit, Yuzu and White Chocolate”
Description: Passion fruit and yuzu gelato swirled with white chocolate gelato variegated with passion fruit reduction

Second place
Maria Florencia Mansile of La Argentina in Katy (TX) with the flavor “The Queen of Pies” Description: Lemon curd gelato with orange zest, variegated with tropical fruit Italian merengue and crumbs with olive oil

Third place
Dora Posada of Casa Morgana Gelatos in San Antonio (TX) with the flavor “Morgana’s Goat Spell”
Description: Goat cheese gelato infused with orange zest topped with figs, toasted pecan & honey

The selected gelato artisans will go on to the North America Semifinals of Gelato Festival World Masters scheduled for 2024. 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: 
•    Lucienne Duforets, Gelato Chef and owner of Bellefontaine Ice Creamery
•    Diego Comparin, Gelato Festival World Masters 2021 World Finalist and 18th best gelato chef in the world according to the Gelato Festival World Ranking
•    Alessandra Salvatori, Italy-America Chamber of Commerce of Texas
•    Mike Riccetti, author and food writer

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 Festivals 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 Budapest - and saw a record of 3,500 gelato artisans judged by international juries. 

GELATO FESTIVAL WORLD MASTERS 
Texas Challenge 
April 11, 2024
Coolers Inc.

LIST OF PARTICIPATING FLAVORS:

WINNERS

First place
Francia Magsaysay of Francy’s Artisanal Ice Cream in Bergenfield (NJ) with the flavor “Passion fruit, Yuzu and White Chocolate”

Second place
Maria Florencia Mansile of La Argentina Gelato & Coffee in Katy (TX) with the flavor “The Queen of Pies”

Third place
Dora Posada of Casa Morgana Gelatos in San Antonio (TX) with the flavor “Morgana’s Goat Spell”

List of the other participants:

1.    Mary Stanley of The Turtle Gelateria in Brownwood (TX) with the flavor “Southern Banana Pudding”;
2.    Manuel Torterola of Gelato La Boca in Dallas (TX) with the flavor “Umami PopCorn”;
3.    Karyn Pumphrey of Gelato Queen in Monroe (GA) with the flavor “Caramel Bourbon”; 
4.    Samir Martula of The Gelatist in Fulshear (TX) with the flavor “Waferino di Nocciola e Rocher”; 
5.    Simon Stankevicius of Gelatissimo in Houston (TX) with the flavor “Texas Sheet Cake Gelato”;
6.    Costantine Koutas of Gelato Costantino in Houston (TX) with the flavor “Bananas Costantino”; 
7.    Mohammad Alqawasmi of Bazaria in Plano (TX) with the flavor “Virgin Mojito”; 
8.    Allan Velasque of Scoop of Blessing in Katy (TX) with the flavor “Blessing from Texas”;
9.    Pedro Quevada of Gelato Paradiso in Austin (TX) with the flavor “Smores”.