Jan 18, 2024 | Media & Awards
Stuff Travel’s recent article on where to find the best ice creams in New Zealand prompted a flurry of alternative suggestions from readers, in which Island Gelato was named one of the best!
Island Gelato, Auckland
The Pics Peanut Butter Caramel gelato with toffee Brittle is “hands down one of the best” ice creams in the country, one reader claimed. They’re not alone in thinking so – the gelato won gold in the 2022 and 2023 NZ Ice Cream and Gelato Awards.
Founded on Waiheke Island in 2014, Island Gelato offers more than 70 flavours across its five Auckland stores – in Mission Bay, Newmarket, Ponsonby, Waiheke’s Oneroa and the Ferry Building in the CBD. Made in-store daily, other award-winning flavours include dulce de leche, rich chocolate, tamarillo, rhubarb, grapefruit gin and yuzu, feijoa coconut swirl, and espresso martini.
Read the full article here.
Sep 5, 2023 | Media & Awards
We take pride in our creative flavours and integrity-driven processes and our kitchen team is at the heart of this innovation! Our patisserie engineer and superstar Hannah Clarke developed what is believed to be the world’s first gelato made from upcycled Tokatoka (gold) kumara.
Named after Tokatoka Peak near Dargaville, the gold kumara is the least known of the kumara varieties. It has a soft, smooth texture with a delicate, sweet taste.
The culinary innovation is part of a new initiative to reduce food waste by demonstrating the use of imperfect fruit and vegetables in artisan food products.
Clarke says while premium foods are not normally associated with produce diverted from landfills, the ingredients have a number of advantages – including making the product’s cost more accessible for consumers.
She says while they have previously utilised imperfect fruits in their gelato, this was the first time a root vegetable had been used and required extensive trials to determine whether it was feasible.
“Weather events are contributing to greater crop yield uncertainty and with climate change accelerating this process it’s becoming increasingly important that we learn to adapt and become more efficient with food production.”
“We work closely with producers to rescue as much cosmetically imperfect produce as possible before it reaches landfill.”
Clarke says they have been experimenting with the gold kumara and was fortunate enough to find a supplier who had hundreds of kilos available after recent weather events.
The gold kumara brûlée gelato has a distinctive caramelised flavour and the high carbohydrate levels of the root vegetable manifest in an almost custard-like consistency when used in the frozen desert.
Clarke says along with kumara she has been inspired to create a number of gelato flavours with other fruit and vegetables including avocados, bananas, grapefruit, rhubarb, blueberries, strawberries and other stoned fruit destined for landfill.
“We ended up with hundreds and hundreds of the most beautiful cherries, which were deemed ‘too dark’ for the export market, but they were just gorgeous. We needed to work with another Kiwi company to pit them all for us, but the gelato at the end was exquisite. It was wonderful that we were able to give money back to the farmer who grew such an incredible product.
“We are definitely on a journey with vegetables, up until now it hasn’t been something we’ve delved into much because we weren’t sure customers would go for it, but I’m hoping to bridge that gap.”
Sep 4, 2023 | Media & Awards
You probably heard we won 25 medals at the NZ Ice Cream and Gelato Awards 2023 and now we’ve got even more good news! Island Gelato Co. is also a 2 x category award winner!!
We won category champion in the Champion Gelato category with our Rich Choc & Sour Cherry gelato!
We also won category champion in the Champion Chocolate category with our Rich Chocolate gelato!
Who makes the best chocolate gelato in Aotearoa? WE DO!
Check out all the award winners here:
https://nzicecreamandgelato.co.nz/awards-2023
Aug 24, 2023 | Media & Awards
Did you hear? We won 25 medals at the NZ Ice Cream and Gelato Awards 2023!
Let’s talk about award-winning flavour, texture and our top-quality gelato and sorbet taking home Bronze, Silver and Gold!
From humble Hokey Pokey to Dill & Mustard Ice Cream, the NZ Ice Cream & Gelato Awards 2023 has revealed an exciting range of medal-winning delights after a thorough tasting of more than 270 entries from makers from across Aotearoa.
An esteemed panel of 20 food judges led by Chief Judge Jackie Matthews had the arduous task of evaluating each entry with meticulous attention to detail over two days in late July. After careful deliberation, a remarkable 183 medals were awarded; among these, an impressive 64 Gold Medals, 74 Silver Medals, and 45 Bronze Medals were bestowed upon the finest Kiwi-made ice cream and gelato creations.
Island Gelato Co took home 25 Medals across various categories including 8 Gold Medals, 10 Silver Medals and 7 Bronze Medals.
Jackie Matthews made special mention of the high standard of entries in 2023, noting flavour trends were an evolution on those observed last year.
“Gelato producers are showing real capability with some superb entries – they really have ‘nailed it’ with the technical aspects of gelato-making; body, texture, mouthfeel and flavour with the result being a fabulous eating experience!”
Medal winners are a roll call of New Zealand’s finest makers from Tip Top Ice Cream Company, Much Moore Ice Cream Co and New Zealand Creameries to boutique makers like Patagonia Chocolates from Queenstown, Appleby Farms in Nelson and Island Gelato Co in Auckland.
More unusual flavours to receive recognition include Gold Medals to Cuisinang Capampangan, Gian’s Calamansi & Manuka Honey Sorbet and Silver Medals for; Ginelli’s, Turmeric Mango Sunrise; Island Gelato Co, Basil & Lime; New Zealand Creameries Deep South, Deep South Smores; Patagonia Chocolates, Orange & Basil Sorbet; and Ginelli’s, Ube.
This year’s NZ Ice Cream & Gelato Awards highlight incredible talent and innovation within New Zealand’s ice cream and gelato industry. The competition is a showcase of dazzling flavours, textures, and styles, each demonstrating the dedication and passion of the makers behind these frozen treats. From classic favourites to daring and inventive combinations, the medal winners set the standard for excellence in the New Zealand ice cream and gelato industry.
Check out all the medal winning flavours here:
https://nzicecreamandgelato.co.nz/awards-2023
Aug 21, 2023 | Media & Awards
We’re a finalist, baby! We’ve been nominated as a finalist at this year’s (2023) New Zealand Food Awards!
Island Gelato Co. has been nominated for our Chocolate & Forest Berry Italian Gelato Cake as a finalist in the Below Zero category!
Check out our 5 locations across Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland!
CBD – Ferry Building. Newmarket – Westfield Rooftop. Ponsonby Rd. Mission Bay. Waiheke Island
What are the NZ Food Awards?
The New Zealand Food Awards is an annual competition in partnership with Massey University that celebrates food and beverage excellence and innovation in Aotearoa.
Check out all the finalists here:
https://www.foodawards.co.nz/2023
Jul 10, 2023 | Media & Awards
We’re excited to announce that we’ve won not one, not two but four awards at this year’s (2023) Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards!!!!
We took home two Gold Medals for our Pineapple Mojito Sorbet and our Chocolate & Forest Berry Italian Gelato Cake! A Silver Medal for our Strawberry Cheesecake Sorbet and a Bronze Medal for our Plum Pavlova Gelato!
Get on down to any of our 5 locations across Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland to try all of these award-winning flavours and more!
CBD – Ferry Building. Newmarket – Westfield Rooftop. Ponsonby Rd. Mission Bay. Waiheke Island
What are the Outstanding Food Producers Awards?
The Outstanding Food Producers Awards celebrates Kiwis who harvest, grow and make food and drinks. Each year a team of specialist judges assess around 300 products, awarding the best with an Outstanding NZ Food Producer Award.
Champion, Special Award, Gold, Silver and Bronze medals are awarded with winning products wearing medal stickers, as an independent endorsement of quality.
Judging Criteria for the Outstanding Food Producers Awards:
The judges allocate marks based on the following criteria.
Product: Aroma, visual appearance, flavour, consistency and quality. Total marks are 85%.
Sustainability: Environmental and Social sustainable business practices. Total marks are 10%.
Brand Story: The story of the brand, where it’s from, sourcing and making. What makes the product special and demonstrates passion. Packaging including graphic design, functionality and innovation are also assessed as part of the score. Total marks are 5%.
Check out all award winners here:
https://www.outstandingfoodproducer.co.nz/dairy-medal-winners-2023
https://www.outstandingfoodproducer.co.nz/free-from-medal-winners-2023