Gelato Festival World Masters, the main category tournament with partners Carpigiani and Sigep - Italian Exhibition Group, is on its new journey around the world for the period of time 2022-2025 searching for the world’s best gelato. The first Belgium stop was in Zandhoven where 27 Belgian gelato artisans took part in the sweetest competition of the year hosted at the Carpigiani Benelux Headquarters in Zandhoven.
The winning gelato artisans and the best gelato artisans in Belgium for 2023 are:

First place
Djordy van Kemseke of Dito's Ice Cream in Schilde with the flavor “Hibiscus & Kaneel”, an elagant Hibiscus gelato flavored with cinnamon and variegated with cranberry; 

Second pace
Wim van Houcke of Gelati van Houcke in Bornem with the flavor “Greek Yogurt, Poire Williams, Peperkoek”, a fresh gelato that combines three ingredients: pine nut, basil and pecorino cheese;

Third place
Ilyas Aarab of Veron in Antwerpen with the flavor “Sweet Almond Cheese with Dates”, a sumptuous gelato made with goat cheese, roasted almonds and dates.

The selected gelato artisans will go on to the European Finals of Gelato Festival World Masters scheduled for 2025. Flavor, structure, creativity and presentation are the four parameters used for the evaluation, highlighting the choice of ingredients, the craftsmanship in elaborating the recipe and the visual impact of the gelato (see below the full list of participants). 

The jury was composed of: 

-    Bas van Haaren, global gelato consultant from Eindhoven
-    Raphaël Giot, pâtissier chocolatier owner of Pâtisserie Giot in Lasne
-    Hans D’heer, pastry chef, teacher at Bakeryschool Ter Groen Poorte in Bruges
-    Carla De Graef, foodblogger and author from Dendermonde, Belgium

Gelato Festival debuted in Florence in 2010, inspired by the creation of the first gelato recipe by the versatile architect Bernardo Buontalenti in 1559. Since then the event has expanded its borders, first to the rest of Italy, then to Europe and – starting in 2017 – the United States, with a total of 80 Festivals held, before embracing the entire planet with the world championship of Gelato Festival World Masters 2021, which concluded in December 2021 - with the victory of Adam Fazekas from Budaest - and saw a record of 3,500 gelato artisans judged by international juries. 

GELATO FESTIVAL WORLD MASTERS 
Belgium Challenge 
February, 7th 2023
Zandhoven 

LIST OF PARTICIPATING FLAVORS:

WINNERS

First place
Djordy van Kemseke of Dito's Ice Cream in Schilde with the flavor “Hibiscus & Kaneel”; 

Second place
Wim van Houcke of Gelati van Houcke in Bornem with the flavor “Greek Yogurt, Poire Williams, Peperkoek”

Third place
Ilyas Aarab of Veron in Antwerpen with the flavor “Sweet Almond Cheese with Dates”; 

List of the other participants:

•    Jelle Haven of Gelato Queen in Oostkamp with the flavor “Pistacchio Pirouette”;
•    Jordi Roose of De Cremerie in Torhout with the flavor “Speculoos”; 
•    Tom van den Berge of Delicioso BV in Burst with the flavor “Pijnboompitten-Basilicum-Pecorino”; 
•    Setareh Pourjavan of Milad Ice Cream in Antwerpen with the flavor “Tahini Stracciatella”;
•    Gert Verschelde of T'Zoet Gemoed in Zomergem with the flavor “Hazelnoot-Geroosterd Gezouten”; 
•    Ellen Lammens of L'Atelier Sucré in Boekhoute with the flavor “Poire Belle Helen”; 
•    Christophe Schraepen of Au p'ti Schrapou in Louveigné with the flavor “Marron’s Seven”; 
•    Denis Kairet of Les Lutins in Anthée with the flavor “Ké-coffee”; 
•    Christian Wu of Christian Wu in Brussel with the flavor “Aperitivo Belga”; 
•    Melanie Soenen of Madame Jeanne in Ichtegem with the flavor “Dulce de Leche”; 
•    Fabio Marasti of La Gourmand'Ice in Verviers with the flavor “Belgian Treasure”; 
•    Sofie Wouters of Tivoli Boutique in Kortenberg with the flavor “Mont Blanc”;
•    Rob Proost of Barijs in Kasterlee with the flavor “Kruidnagel Appelsien”; 
•    Christof Thorez of Suprice desserts Bv in Houthulst with the flavor “Tarte Tatin Pizza Ice”; 
•    Peter Roman of Atelier du Trieu in Pecq with the flavor “Yuzu-Bosbessen”; 
•    Tony Lannoyé of Tearoom Silversand in Blankenberge with the flavor “Waffle-Ice”; 
•    Filip Dekock of X-Cream in Ledegem with the flavor “Pure - MAGIX”; 
•    Maryne Poppe of Tendance Glacée in Namen with the flavor “Pop Pop Pop”; 
•    Jelle Bories of Sorbetes ni Manong Jelle in Sint-Niklaas with the flavor “Sapin Sapin”; 
•    Marc Calluy of Fijnzoet in Kruibeke with the flavor “Orange-Grand Manier”; 
•    Kim Smet & Kristel Carlino of Luca's Ijs in Hamme with the flavor “Nougat Caramel Kalamansi”; 
•    José Romero of Pepe's in Brussel with the flavor “Amandine”; 
•    Mathieu Eyckmans of Oyya in Brugge with the flavor “Lemon 2.0”;
•    Julien Limbach of Gelato Giuliano in Antwerpen with the flavor “Nutty Sicilian”.