Gelato Festival World Masters, the most prestigious gelato tournament in the world, announced today that the festival and competition will make its highly anticipated return to Los Angeles on September 2nd and 3rd, 2023 at Ovation Hollywood - the iconic shopping, dining, and entertainment complex at the heart of Hollywood Boulevard - just steps away from the official Gelato Festival Flagship Store. For two days attendees will experience a gelato-centric competition bringing together frigophiles and the most sought-after gelato makers in the country in one place. Along with strategic partners Carpigiani and Sigep - Italian Exhibition Group, the Gelato Festival World Masters is thrilled to host this one-of-a-kind event in Los Angeles where skilled gelato masters compete with each other for the title of the Best Gelato Master in North America 2023. Los Angeles Magazine is the official Media Partner.

The Gelato Festival World Masters Los Angeles will showcase the best artisanal gelato craftsmanship in North America highlighting 12 chefs who have won top marks in previous Gelato Festival World Masters sanctioned events in NYC, Toronto, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Each competing chef will be judged by a technical panel of professionals and by festival attendees. The Gelato Festival World Masters in Los Angeles will also serve as  a core qualifying competition with the winners earning the chance to represent North America on the road to the World Finals in 2025. The competitors include:

●    Guiseppe Lollino of Vero Gelato in Franklin Park, IL
●    Maria Liliana Biondo of uGOgelato in Cincinnati, OH
●    Lauren Brock of Butterfat Gelato in Pittsburgh, PA
●    James Coleridge of Gelato by James in Vancouver (Canada)
●    Gisella Zomparelli-Chung of Gelato North in Toronto (Canada)
●    Gabriele di Marco of Oretta Restaurant Toronto in Toronto (Canada)
●    Patrizia Pasqualetti of Gelato by Patrizia Pasqualetti in Santa Clara, CA
●    Jose Alvarez of Gelatao Go El Segundo in El Segundo, CA
●    Simona Vacca of Il Gusto in West Covina, CA
●    Melanie Wolf of Pompelmo Gelateria of Westerly, RI 
●    Francia Michelle Magsaysay  of Francy’s Artisanal Ice Cream in Bergenfield, NJ
●    Golan Chetrit of Noi Due Gelato in New York City, NY

A beloved hub for celebrating and collaborating with the local community, the family-friendly event will take over Ovation Hollywood’s grand and welcoming common area. The family-friendly event will feature an exciting lineup of activities and attractions, including live demonstrations by gelato artisans, interactive gelato tastings, workshops, and competitions to determine the best gelato flavors in various categories. Attendees will also have the chance to learn about the history and culture of gelato and discover the stories behind some of the world's most renowned gelato shops. In addition to the 12 competing gelato chefs’ creations, there are additional sampling opportunities from the festival's array of curated sponsors and chefs which will include gluten-free and lactose-free options.

EVENT DETAILS: 
WHAT: The Gelato Festival World Masters
DATE: September 2nd and September 3rd; 10am-7pm daily
LOCATION: Ovation Hollywood is located on the corner of Hollywood Blvd. & Highland Ave. in Los Angeles, CA. Parking information: https://www.ovationhollywood.com/visit 
PRICING: Tickets start at $15, featuring the $40 “Gelato Lovers” (full tastings from the competition chefs, and all sponsor and partner activities) and are available for purchase at https://bucketlisters.com/experience/gelato-festival-world-masters Advance purchase is encouraged to secure a spot at this highly anticipated event, and special discounts for kids and seniors are available.

For the latest updates and information about the Gelato Festival World Masters Los Angeles 2023, including ticket sales and forthcoming updates, please visit https://gelatofestival.com/ and  follow @gelatofestivalworldmasters. 

Media Contact:
The Door | gelatofestival@thedooronline.com

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ABOUT GELATO FESTIVAL WORLD MASTERS & GELATO FESTIVAL

The Gelato Festival World Masters is an international event dedicated to artisanal gelato. Founded in 2010 in Florence, Italy, it has evolved into one of the most important events in the gelato industry, and is the world’s premiere gelato tournament attracting millions of visitors worldwide. The Gelato Festival World Masters brings together gelato artisans, offers educational opportunities, and promotes the culture and excellence of Italian gelato.
The competition covers a four-year period and in each edition within, competitors are selected through hundreds of events on five continents. Since 2010 the festival has run 13 consecutive editions with more than 100 festivals open to the public in over 20 countries, including Italy, and across Europe, the United States, and Japan. Each year more than 1,000 competing Gelato Masters have joined this momentous event that brings international awareness to the beloved artisanal cold dessert invented in the Renaissance by Bernardo Buontalenti. 

Gelato Festival World Masters, founded by Gabriele Poli in Florence, Italy over a decade ago, has resulted in a world class brand of gelato, aptly named Gelato Festival. Gelato Festival brings the best of the best flavors from around the globe which are sold to major hospitality groups in America, at local retailers, online and at their popular flagship store located at Ovation Hollywood, in Los Angeles. www.gelatofestival.com.

ABOUT DJM

DJM is a private equity real estate owner, operator and developer based in California. DJM creates long-term value by transforming real estate to meet the 21st century demands of consumers, retailers, and office users. With a focus on placemaking, DJM leverages design, development, and best-in-class management to create places where people thrive. DJM is represented by a current portfolio of approximately four million square feet with an estimated portfolio value of $2 billion. For more information, please visit www.djmcapital.com. For more information on Ovation Hollywood property updates and happenings, please visit www.ovationhollywood.com.

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Gelato Festival Founder, Sponsor and Partner Quotes

Gabriele Poli, Founder of Gelato Festival World Masters
"We are thrilled to bring the Gelato Festival World Masters back to Los Angeles and showcase the incredible talent and creativity of gelato artisans," said Gabriele Poli Founder of Gelato Festival. "The festival is a celebration of the finest gelato makers and flavors in the world, and we’re honored to host this event for gelato lovers to experience the authentic flavors and craftsmanship that make gelato such a beloved dessert worldwide."

Penny Klinger, President of Carpigiani North America - Strategic Partner
“Gelato Festival is a strategic event aiming to give visibility to a selection of artisanal gelato makers operating in North America to pass on the gelato culture that has its roots in the Florentine Renaissance. Our aim with Carpigiani Frozen Dessert University is to give visibility to the tradition of ice cream making in the USA; a deeply rooted profession that evocates family memories and fun summers. This profession has existed since our Founding Fathers, and we proudly exhibit different historical items in our Gelato Museum based in Italy.”

Flavia Morelli, Group Exhibition Manager food & beverage division, Italian Exhibition Group - Strategic Partner
“With Sigep, the world's leading artisan gelato trade show, we are truly delighted to be a Gelato Festival partner once again. Our mission is to support the sector’s companies in spreading the culture of this extraordinary top-quality product across every continent, globally promoting it as a true emblem of Made in Italy food. This year, together with Koelnmesse and held at the same time as Anufood China, Sigep already made its debut in Shenzhen, China, with excellent business results and we are sure that the return of Gelato Festival will be a further step along this stimulating growth path.”
Lindsay J. Hurlic, Sr. Director of Special Events & Partnerships at Ovation Hollywood
"We are so honored and excited to host the world's most authoritative event dedicated to gelato at Ovation Hollywood. The 2023 Gelato Festival World Masters is a welcome opportunity to gather the local Los Angeles community and tourists from around the world who come to our property for best-in-class experiences as we celebrate and spread the culture of artisanal Italian gelato. We look forward to bringing the convivial spirit and transformative atmosphere that Gelato Festival organizers have cultivated at previous festivals to Ovation Hollywood."