A Northumberland gelato ice cream maker is celebrating after continuing his gold medal run in a national competition where he also proved flavour of the month last year.
Ciccarelli at South Beach in Blyth, last year won a gold at the National Ice Cream Competition after impressing judges with its vanilla ice cream and this year - to the delight of boss Domenico Gregorio - it followed up with chocolate and blackcurrant winners in a double success. The awards, run by the Ice Cream Alliance, also singled out other local favourite ice-cream makers whose range of flavours are set to prove especially popular during day-out treats over the upcoming Easter break.
Domenico is celebrating gold this time around for both his white chocolate gelato and blackcurrant sorbet at the trade awards described as the Oscars of ice cream competitions. He said: "I feel I am giving the people of Northumberland the best sorbets and ice cream I can make."
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When he won with vanilla ice cream last year, he saw it as a massive achievement, saying: "We've been trying to win this for 30 years." He added: "We Italians have a saying - when visiting an ice cream parlour, try the vanilla and try the pistachio ice creams. If those are good everything else will be.”
Now his two new gold awards bring two more trophies for Ciccarelli Italian Gelato which was started in 1966 by his parents Donato and Elena who began with an ice cream van. The couple had five sons who all worked in the business which has expanded over the years to now include an ice cream factory in Cramlington, with more than 200 wholesale customers selling its products all over the North East.
The award-winning parlour uses only organic milk, which comes from Bay's Leap Farm just 15 miles away, and as a extra seaside treat for customers, Domenic also runs Coastline Fish & Chips at South Beach. He added: “This has become my passion to serve the general public with the best fish and chips and ice cream anywhere - and I believe I do!”
The annual National Ice Cream Competition sees hundreds of products submitted across 13 categories including an 'alternative' section for products such as those free from 14 allergens as well as dairy-free, low-fat, high-protein and no-sugar. The submissions are judged blind by ice cream experts.
Katy Alston, ICA president, said: “After a few decidedly difficult years for our industry, ice cream businesses are bouncing back with gusto. Ciccarelli’s is proof of that with the quality of the products that won these prestigious awards."
She added: "Big congratulations to Domenico and his team and here’s wishing them a super successful summer season.” Other local names of note in the competition were Beckleberry's of Blaydon; Di Meo's Delaval Ices, Whitley Bay; Spurreli Ltd, of Amble in Northumberland, and South Tyneside-based Minchella & Co.
Like Ciccarelli, the companies ranked in the 'special diploma of merit' and 'diploma' sections in various categories, including the open flavour class. For their full results here.
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