Silvia Bertolazzi and Erik Graveson are opening a new gelato/espresso café in the Juliet Hotel downtown.
Silvia Bertolazzi and Erik Graveson are opening a new gelato/espresso café in the Juliet Hotel downtown.
Carpe Diem! Gelato and Espresso Bar, located at 812 Jefferson St., will feature gelato, sorbetto, pastries and a variety of espresso drinks.
Gelato is an Italian frozen dessert, similar to ice cream but with a smooth, creamy consistency, explains Bertolazzi. Its all-natural ingredients include milk and sugar often combined with fruit, chocolate, liquor, spices or nuts. Unlike ice cream, gelato often does not contain cream and has substantially less fat than ice cream, making it a healthy gourmet delicacy. "We are thrilled to be bringing a taste of my country, Italy, to Lafayette and look forward to introducing this new, delicious treat to Acadiana," she says.
The duo says it is bringing the "third wave of coffee" philosophy to the area, referencing the current movement to produce high-quality coffee and view it as an artisanal process, like wine, rather than just a commodity.
Carpe Diem! Gelato and Espresso Bar's gelato and coffee machines and other supplies come from Italy. Bertolazzi and Graveson say they will open this summer but did not give a definite date. For more information, visit the Carpe Diem! Gelato-Espresso Facebook page at www.facebook.com/carpediemgelatoespresso or on twitter at @carpediegelato.