Surf Coast-based Gelato Gelato swept top honours at 2023 Melbourne Royal Dairy Awards last month.
The results are in, and the cream of the dairy crop has been crowned at the 2023 Melbourne Royal Dairy Awards, where Australian dairy producers showcased their prowess in producing top-quality milk, yoghurts, cheeses, butters, and ice-creams. This prestigious event, a newly relaunched category of the Melbourne Royal Australian Food Awards, saw the finest dairy products from across the nation compete for recognition.
The best part is the big winner of the night was none other than the renowned Surf Coast-based Gelato Gelato, which scooped up the top awards, including Champion Dairy Producer and Champion Victorian Dairy Producer. Owned by the dedicated food enthusiasts Jo Stevens and Stephanie Lewis, Gelato Gelato, founded in 2016, operates in Lorne, Anglesea, and Geelong. This award-winning gelato store won the hearts and taste buds of the judges with their Choc Mint Gelato.
Major trophy winners were:
- Champion Dairy Producer: Gelato Gelato (Victoria)
- Champion Victorian Dairy Producer, presented by Agriculture Victoria: Gelato Gelato (Victoria)
- Best Gelato: Gelato Gelato (Victoria) ‘Gelato Gelato Choc Mint’
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Jo Stevens expressed her team’s delight in receiving these prestigious accolades. “Having trained with gelato masters in Italy, we came back to Australia determined to make all our gelato from scratch using the finest local ingredients which means we’re always busy roasting, making sauces, pralines and cookies to include in our delicious flavours,” she said. “Our award-winning choc mint gelato – made with freshly puréed mint and 70% organic dark chocolate – is the perfect example of our dedication to quality.”
In the eyes of the judges, Gelato Gelato’s Choc Mint Gelato was nothing short of exceptional, with outstanding texture, a well-balanced flavour, and sumptuous chocolate inclusions. Their fresh mint flavour was described as fragrant, light, and fresh, resulting in what the judges declared to be possibly “the best mint chocolate chip ice cream” they’ve ever had.
Lorne’s award-winning ice cream store Gelato Gelato has opened on Geelong’s waterfront
This year’s Melbourne Royal Dairy Awards also recognised other dairy producers who distinguished themselves with their exceptional products. Notable mentions included LardAss Butter for ‘Black Garlic Cultured Butter,’ Coal River Farm for ‘Coal River Farm Blue’ cheese, and Woodside Cheese Wrights for ‘Kris Lloyd Artisan Goat Persian Feta.’ Additionally, Bulla Dairy Foods secured two awards: ‘Bulla Australian Style Natural Yoghurt 160G’ for Best Unflavoured Yoghurt and ‘Reese’s Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cone 4pk’ for Best Single Serve Ice-cream.
With its robust array of dairy offerings, the event celebrated a diverse range of dairy products, each a testament to the dedication and craftsmanship of their producers. The Melbourne Royal Dairy Awards serve as a platform to showcase excellence in Australian food production, and this year’s winners have certainly set a high standard for the industry.
For the full list of gold, silver, and bronze medallists in all entry classes, you can find the results here.
Gelato Gelato is located at 10-14 Eastern Beach Road, Geelong, 114 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne, and Unit 4/141Great, Ocean Road, Anglesea.
