The co-owner of Downtown Lafayette's Carpe Diem! Gelato-Espresso Bar walked away from last weekend's Gelato World Tour in Austin's Republic Square with one of two Technical Jury Awards for her La Grande Bellezza (The Great Beauty) recipe.
THUMBS UP: Bertolazzi basks in the gelato glory.
Silvia Bertolazzi knows gelato, and she has an award to prove it. The co-owner of Downtown Lafayette's Carpe Diem! Gelato-Espresso Bar walked away from last weekend's Gelato World Tour in Austin's Republic Square - akin to the North American championship for gelato-making - with one of two Technical Jury Awards for her La Grande Bellezza (The Great Beauty) recipe.
A native of Italy, Bertolazzi and partner Erik Graveson opened Carpe Diem! in the summer of 2011 and quickly established themselves as both a go-to source for authentic Italian gelato as well as artisanal coffee. The cafe has become a popular hangout spot at the corner of Jefferson and Convent streets complete with an old-but-playable piano in the outdoor seating area.
According to Bertolazzi, who was one of just 16 finalists in the competition pitting dozens of gelato artists from all over North America, the Jury Technical Award was made by "a jury consisting of professional foodies - like the PhDs in the culinary world. Each flavor was judged on presentation, texture and flavor."
Congrats, Silvia!
These people get excited about gelato!
