Ciao Bella Gelato Company
Encyclopedia
Ciao Bella Gelato Company is a company specializing in gelatos and sorbets. It was begun in 1983 in a kitchen in New York City
's Little Italy
. Traditional recipes from Torino were used. Ciao Bella, as it is more commonly called, is currently owned by Charlie Apt and F.W. Pearce.
, NY's Famous Balducci's market, and dozens of other eclectic NY eateries. Having grown the business to a sustainable level, Jon felt it time to move on and put an ad to sell the company in the NY Times in 1989. Pearce saw the ad. Believing it to be a brilliant idea to buy it, he borrowed $90,000 from his mother- enough to buy the store, a batch freezer, a pick up truck, and the recipes for 60 flavors. In the beginning, everything, from mixing flavors to delivering the product, was done by Pearce and a few part-time employees. By 1993, he managed to bring sales up to $1 million. In the same year, he was introduced to a banker, Charlie Apt, who was the partner he was looking for to expand to a larger market. Thanks to his knack for sales, which included cold-calling countless restaurants and adding colors and logos to the then-white pints, product sales doubled to $2 million within another year. In addition, Jon Snyder, later in 2001, after years out of the ice cream business, opened 'il laboratorio del gelato' on NYC's lower east side, rededicated to servicing NYC restaurants in particular.
", Ciao Bella also serves sorbet and frozen yogurt
. Ciao Bella can also custom make flavors by chef's request. Ciao Bella's gelato is handmade, based on a family recipe, with 12% butterfat
and has 20% air by volume
(In comparison to up to 50% air found in some ice cream
s, and 7~8% found in most gelato
s).
(NASFT). Zagat has also named Ciao Bella as the "Best Ice Cream in New York" in 2002.
In addition, the Angeleno magazine has named it the finest in Los Angeles, and it has been chosen to be the House Purveyor for the James Beard Foundation
.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Little Italy
Little Italy
Little Italy is a general name for an ethnic enclave populated primarily by Italians or people of Italian ancestry, usually in an urban neighborhood.-Canada:*Little Italy, Edmonton, in Alberta*Little Italy, Montreal, in Quebec...
. Traditional recipes from Torino were used. Ciao Bella, as it is more commonly called, is currently owned by Charlie Apt and F.W. Pearce.
History
Ciao Bella began as an idea in the summer of 1983 when cousins Jon F. Snyder and Laura Grady were on a summer holiday in Italy. They both were fascinated with the uniqueness of Italian ice creams, having grown up working in their grandparents' Carvel ice cream store in Peekskill, NY. Jon, only 19 at the time, in particular, became obsessed with the idea of bringing a version of gelato to New York City. He eventually quit school, raised $25,000 from family and friends and, with Laura and her sister Christine's help, opened a small shop at 451 broome street in the SoHo area of manhattan, in May 1984. Their focus was on building up a wholesale business as they canvassed NY restaurants with samples, trying to build a sustainable year-round enterprise. In five years, they built a substantial clientele of chefs which included Charlie Palmer of the River Cafe, the "21" Club, the Russian Tea RoomRussian Tea Room
The Russian Tea Room is a restaurant in New York City, located at 150 West 57th Street between Carnegie Hall Tower and Metropolitan Tower.-History:...
, NY's Famous Balducci's market, and dozens of other eclectic NY eateries. Having grown the business to a sustainable level, Jon felt it time to move on and put an ad to sell the company in the NY Times in 1989. Pearce saw the ad. Believing it to be a brilliant idea to buy it, he borrowed $90,000 from his mother- enough to buy the store, a batch freezer, a pick up truck, and the recipes for 60 flavors. In the beginning, everything, from mixing flavors to delivering the product, was done by Pearce and a few part-time employees. By 1993, he managed to bring sales up to $1 million. In the same year, he was introduced to a banker, Charlie Apt, who was the partner he was looking for to expand to a larger market. Thanks to his knack for sales, which included cold-calling countless restaurants and adding colors and logos to the then-white pints, product sales doubled to $2 million within another year. In addition, Jon Snyder, later in 2001, after years out of the ice cream business, opened 'il laboratorio del gelato' on NYC's lower east side, rededicated to servicing NYC restaurants in particular.
The Chef
A worldwide search was conducted in 1999 for an executive chef. Ciao Bella's owners found Danilo Zecchin, an international chef. Danilo draws many insiprations from his childhood memories of Northern Italy.The Scoops
Although the name of the company includes the word "gelatoGelato
Gelato is the italian word for ice cream and sorbet. Italians use the word gelato to mean a sweet treat that is served frozen. Indeed, gelato, just like ice cream, is made with Milk, cream, various sugars, flavoring including fresh fruit and nut purees....
", Ciao Bella also serves sorbet and frozen yogurt
Frozen yogurt
Frozen yogurt is a frozen dessert containing yogurt or other dairy products. It is slightly more tart than ice cream, as well as lower in fat...
. Ciao Bella can also custom make flavors by chef's request. Ciao Bella's gelato is handmade, based on a family recipe, with 12% butterfat
Butterfat
Butterfat or milkfat is the fatty portion of milk. Milk and cream are often sold according to the amount of butterfat they contain.- Composition :The fatty acids of butterfat are typically composed as follows :...
and has 20% air by volume
(In comparison to up to 50% air found in some ice cream
Ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
s, and 7~8% found in most gelato
Gelato
Gelato is the italian word for ice cream and sorbet. Italians use the word gelato to mean a sweet treat that is served frozen. Indeed, gelato, just like ice cream, is made with Milk, cream, various sugars, flavoring including fresh fruit and nut purees....
s).
Awards and achievements
Ciao Bella has won multiple awards, many from the National Association for the Specialty Food TradeNational Association for the Specialty Food Trade
The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade is a not-for-profit business trade association established in 1952 to foster trade, commerce and interest in the specialty food industry in the USA...
(NASFT). Zagat has also named Ciao Bella as the "Best Ice Cream in New York" in 2002.
In addition, the Angeleno magazine has named it the finest in Los Angeles, and it has been chosen to be the House Purveyor for the James Beard Foundation
James Beard Foundation
The James Beard Foundation is a New York-based national professional non-profit organization named in honor of James Beard that serves to promote the culinary arts by honoring chefs, wine professionals, journalists, and cookbook authors at annual award ceremonies and providing scholarships and...
.
List of Flavors
- Amaretto
- Banana
- Banana Walnut Praline
- Blackberry Cabernet
- Blood Orange
- Blueberry
- Bourbon Butter Pecan
- Caramel
- Caramel Heath Bar Crunch
- Chocolate
- Chocolate Hazelnut
- Chocolate (Nero)
- Chocolate (Valrhona)
- Chocolate (White)
- Chocolate Chip
- Chocolate Chocolate Chip Swirl
- Chocolate Jalapeño
- Cinnamon Carmel Swirl
- Coconut
- Coffee (Espresso)
- Cookies and Cream
- Dulce de Leche (Dolce di Latte)
- Fresh Mint
- Fresh Mint w/Chocolate Chips
- Fromage Blanc
- Ginger
- Green Tea
- Hazelnut
- Hazelnut-Biscotti
- Lemon Curd
- Lychee
- Malted Milk Ball
- Mango
- Mocha Chip
- Peaches and Cream
- Pistachio
- Prickly Pear
- Raspberry
- Red Bean
- Rum Raisin
- Strawberry
- Triple Espresso
- Vanilla (All Natural Blend)
- Vanilla (Bourbon)*
- Vanilla (French)
- Vanilla (Hawaiian)
- Vanilla (Low Carb)
- Vanilla (Tahitian)
- Zabaione