Gelato Festival World Masters, the main category tournament with partners Carpigiani and Sigep - Italian Exhibition Group, has found its second UK Finalist! On November 12th, at the Food Sorcery Development Kitchen in Manchester, 7 gelato chefs from England, Scotland and Wales took part in the second competition of the year organized by Carpigiani UK. 

The winner of the competition was:

•    Samantha Cunliffe of Bene Gelateria in Frodsham with the flavour “Chocolate Orange Cocco Crunch”
     Description: custard-based gelato infused with ginger, cinnamon and orange, with dark chocolate stracciatella and diced candied ginger on top

The Cheshire gelato maker will advance to the European Finals scheduled for 2025 in Italy. Taste, structure, creativity and presentation were 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 (full list of participants below). 

Given the high quality of the flavours in the competition, the jury decided to award two special mentions to:

•    Martin Crolla of A Crolla & Sons in Lochmaben with the flavour “Lorenzo” 
Description: white chocolate and local honey gelato with raspberry variegato and pistachio cremeaux
•    Abygail Hughes of The Cosy Cone in Malmesbury with the flavour “The King’s Favourite”
Description: Earl Grey infused gelato with butter biscuit and chocolate drizzle

The jury was composed of: 
•    Filippo Mancini – Managing Director of Mancini’s
•    David Equi – Managing Director of Equi’s Ice Cream
•    Jake Ansbro – Co-owner of Gooey and EATMCR
•    Robert Scappaticci – Managing Director at Benito's and ICA Board Member

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, 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 
UK Challenge 
November 12, 2024
Food Sorcery, Manchester
Carpigiani UK

WINNER

• Samantha Cunliffe of Bene Gelateria in Frodsham with the flavour “Chocolate Orange Cocco Crunch”

Other participants: 

• Jack Boam of Tagg Lane Dairy in Bakewell with the flavour “Tagg Lane Dubai Chocolate”
• Roberto Culivicchi of Roberto Authentic Italian Gelato in York with the flavour “Crunchy Cherry”
• Martin Crolla of A Crolla & Sons in Lochmaben with the flavour “Lorenzo”
• Monika Oziablo of Oscar’s Gelato in Edinburgh with the flavour “Pure Pistachio”
• Abygail Hughes of The Cosy Cone in Malmesbury with the flavour “The King’s Favourite”
• Melissa Morgan of Hufenfa’r Castell in Harlech with the flavour “Dragon’s Breath”