THE ART OF THE GELATO DECORATED CUPS
23/05/2024

“Initially we just had a single sheet of paper as a menu, with a few cups and a few photos. Today we have about 50 cups on the menu, including a mix of soft gelato, yogurt, fresh fruit, seasonal fruit, and classic, timeless cups.” Palmiro says that he uses around 15 flavors to create them and that they’re the same as those available in the display case, so there’s no need to differentiate the production. He also points out that to serve cups at the table a gelato shop must also have the right spaces and the right permit.
"Today in the gelato shop it’s easier to create products with special techniques. Today's technology has made production much faster and more practical. With blast freezers production times have been considerably reduced. I remember the famous ‘gelato tiles’ that were left overnight in the freezer to harden before they could be sold. Fulvio Scolari, my teacher, said that ‘gelato flowers’ were made directly in the cold rooms of large hotels, and the gelato artisans had to work inside them wearing jackets." Many other things have changed compared to the past, from the glass of the cups that maintains temperature better, to the esthetics of the product itself. Colored plastic inserts are no longer used. The cups are decorated with food products, flowers made of fruit, sauces, or other kinds of handcrafted inserts with different textures capable of offering a unique experience.
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For those who want to add gelato cups to their menu, Palmiro Bruschi suggests starting with a dozen or so classic cups so that the service isn’t overwhelmed, perhaps choosing to develop gelato versions of local specialties. Also, offer gelato cups designed specifically for children, for example small cups of spaghetti eis or little animals made using different sized scoops of gelato and decorated with cookies (like a teddy bear, snowman, or bee). We can’t forget that gelato cups will always have a special place in the hearts of all children: even years later we all remember the image of the waiter in the gelato shop coming towards us sitting at our table with a tray full of gelato, proud to serve us our cup, the most beautiful – and delicious – of all!
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