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 challenge on Canadian soil, following the 2023 selection, took place April 16 in Mississauga, ON, where 18 gelato chefs took part in the sweetest competition of the year at the headquarters of Cool King Refrigeration, Carpigiani distributor.

The winning chefs and the best gelato artisans in Canada for 2024 are:

First place

Kaya Ogruce from Death in Venice in Toronto, ON with the flavor “Rich Bitch”

Description: gelato infused with wild candy cap mushrooms, topped with Canadian caviar and olive oil for a salty and warm touch

Second place

Gabriele Di Marco from Oretta Café in Toronto, ON with the flavor “Amabile”

Description: coffee gelato 100% arabica twisted with Sicilian lemon & Pistachio crunch with cornflakes

Third place

Carlo Diano from Futura Granita + Gelato in Toronto, ON with the flavor “Tamago Kake Gohan”

Description: custard gelato with white sesame crumble and seaweed with miso caramel

Fourth place

James Coleridge from Gelato by James in Vancouver, BC with the flavor “Almond Wild Cherry”

Description: buffalo milk, almond oil and extract from Sicily, amaretti cookies made in house at Casereccio and the famed wild cherry

Ogruce, Diano and Coleridge (1^st, 3^rd and 4^th place) will advance to the North American Semifinals of Gelato Festival World Masters, to be held later this year. While Di Marco, who had won the previous North American Semifinals held in 2023, is already qualified for the North American Finals (to be held in 2025). Flavor, structure, creativity, and oral and aesthetic 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: Annie Chu, food expert, founder of Chu on This; Massimo Zitti, bartender, and owner at Mother Cocktail Bar; Hadrien Verrier, chef and owner at Hadrien Patisserie; David H. Chow, pastry chef and maître chocolatier.

GELATO FESTIVAL WORLD MASTERS

Ontario Challenge, Mississauga

April 16, 2024

Cool King Refrigeration

LIST OF PARTICIPATING FLAVORS:

WINNERS

First place

Kaya Ogruce from Death in Venice in Toronto, ON with the flavor “Rich Bitch”

Second place

Gabriele Di Marco from Oretta Café in Toronto, ON with the flavor “Amabile”

Third place

Carlo Diano from Futura Granita + Gelato in Toronto, ON with the flavor “Tamago Kake Gohan”

Fourth place

James Coleridge from Gelato by James in Vancouver, BC with the flavor “Almond Wild Cherry”

List of the other participants:

• Paolo di Lallo from Mizzica Gelateria & Caffe in Toronto, ON with the flavor “Fondente al Bacio”
• Darren Johns from Mercury Chocolates & Gelateria in Cobourg, ON with the flavor “Pomegranate”
• Mark Johnson from Ed’s Real Scoop in Toronto, ON with the flavor “Red Hot Chili Chocolate”
• Jade Joey from On Third Thought in Toronto, ON with the flavor “Venetian Sunset”
• Gisella Zomparelli Chung from Gelato North in Toronto, ON with the flavor “Hotteok”
• Parry Sohi from Nani’s Gelato in Mississauga, ON with the flavor “Hazelnut Chai Tiramisu”
• Daniela Zomparelli from Lola’s Gelato in Toronto, ON with the flavor “Brigadeiro”
• Tatjana Mitrovic from Joy Foods Canada in Etobicoke, ON with the flavor “Pride Sorbetto – Fruity Monster (love is served here)”
• Stefania Pede from Cocoa 40 in Newmarket, ON with the flavor “Sea Turtle”
• Kiren Miret from Gelateria Morgana in Oakville, ON with the flavor “Goat Cheese with tropical twist”
• Giovanni Pizzale from Affogato in Huntsville, ON with the flavor “Lavender Gewurztraminer”
• Martin Littkermann from The Buff Stuff Store in Stirling, ON with the flavor “Vanilla”
• Kennedy Kot from Mio Gelato in Kingston, ON with the flavor “Chocolate Honey Comb”
• Salvatore Guarna from I Love Gelato in Burlington, ON with the flavor “Sapori di Calabria”