When the first heat waves of summer begin to role into town, Republic Square Park will keep you cool with a creamy dessert competition. The Gelato World Tour, a globe-hopping extravaganza of sweetness, has announced that Austin will be the only North American stop on its international tour.
From May 9-11, Austinites are invited to the event where you can do more than just taste the popular Italian dessert (although, in our opinion, that's the best part). On the main stage will be a competition between North America’s top 16 gelato makers, including Austin’s own Matthew Lee of Teo Espresso and Gelato.
Guests who purchase a $10 Gelato Ticket will get five tastes of gelato (two cups, three samples) at the festival, as well as the chance to vote for their favorite flavor concocted by the gelato masters. The three North American winners will continue on to the final competition for the world’s best gelato taking place later this year.
"The city’s interest in diverse food experiences, healthy lifestyle, artistic culture and desire for high-quality locally-sourced food ingredients made Austin the perfect choice for our competition," said Achille Sassoli, the Gelato World Tour’s director.
At the end of the year, the Gelato World Tour will have stopped in a total of eight cities around the world, including Rome, Valencia, Melbourne and Dubai. The tour concludes in Rimini, Italy in September, where the finalists (including the three selected in Austin) will compete for the title of "best gelato artisan in the world."
Local partners of the Austin event include the Sustainable Food Center and the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce of Texas, but the best partnership will be the one between your sweet tooth and the countless flavors of handcrafted gelato.