If you enjoyed reading about members' Italian adventures in last month's issue and this month's pages, you're not alone—Italy seems to be calling out to many in the community. And while booking your next flight to Rome or Florence might take some planning, experiencing authentic Italian gelato is remarkably easier. In fact, it's just a few minutes away at Harborside Place, where a young entrepreneur is bringing the genuine taste of Bologna to Jupiter.

Ever wonder what it takes to bring authentic Italian gelato to South Florida? Try being freshly graduated from college, facing visa challenges, and convincing an entire Italian board of directors that you're serious enough to open their first franchise in Palm Beach County. For Giancarlo Triulzi, that was just the beginning of his American dream.

Gelato & Co.'s story begins in Bologna, Italy - known as the "Capital of Gelato" - where one of the company's founders' father-in-law invented and held the patent for a specific type of gelato machine. The recipes themselves come from Leonardo Ragazzi, creator of Bologna's iconic Cremeria Funivia, who crafts each flavor as a tribute to his city's culture and the finest ingredients. When influential Italians came together to bring this concept worldwide through franchising, they started conquering markets from England to the Caribbean. By 2019, they had set their sights on the United States.

That's where Giancarlo enters the picture. At just 22, armed with a business plan and the determination to stay in South Florida, which he'd come to love, he met with the entire Gelato & Co. board in Palm Beach. "I had to make a strong case for my dream," he explains. "I had just started my O.P.T. year, and I met with some lawyers and investors, and said, look, this is the plan that I have to open an amazing gelato shop!"

The board's response? Find a great location, and they'd move forward. Giancarlo discovered the perfect spot in Delray Beach on Atlantic Avenue, and the company's CEO immediately approved. By September 2022, he'd opened his first location—while simultaneously working on his investor visa. "I did my visa and the franchise both at the same time," he recalls. The first year exceeded expectations so dramatically that by August 2024, he opened his second location in our backyards at Harborside Place.

What makes Gelato & Co. different from the countless gelato shops dotting South Florida? The answer lies thousands of miles away. "One of the main reasons I decided to invest with this company is the fact that they have direct control and communication with the suppliers in Italy," Giancarlo explains. Nearly 95% of their ingredients are imported from Italy, including pistachios from Bronte - the world capital of pistachios - selected from a specific supplier known for exceptional quality. The coffee? A unique blend roasted in Italy exclusively for Gelato & Co. Even the water is Acqua Panna, adding to the authentic Italian atmosphere.

But importing premium ingredients is only part of the story. Every morning at the Jupiter location (and at each of their shops), the team produces fresh gelato artisanally. "Every single day we have to make the gelato," Giancarlo emphasizes. "We produce small batches, and we can stack one on top of the other in the freezer if we're very busy, but if we're not busy, we just produce the right amount we know is going to sell. The gelato will not stay there for more than two days." This commitment to freshness gives each batch a unique character—those generous chocolate flakes adorning the chocolate mint (this author's favorite, by the way)? Someone on the morning shift lovingly added those.

The menu extends well beyond scoops and cones. Custom gelato cakes accommodate up to 16 people and can be made completely dairy-free and vegan. The pastries follow recipes studied by the Italian board and adapted for American preferences. "You'll be surprised how many differences there are between what the American customer wants and what the Italian customers expect," Giancarlo notes. For those wanting to enjoy gelato at home, pints and tubs (one or two pounds) offer convenient options—though Giancarlo playfully warns about his friend who texts him photos of finished one-pound containers at night.

The elegant gelato cart service has become particularly popular for weddings and special events. The Jupiter location now has two carts—the newest in white specifically for weddings—capable of serving parties from 50 to over 1,000 people with proper planning. It can stay operational for six hours or an entire day when plugged in, making it ideal for outdoor celebrations. Gelato & Co. has already partnered with prestigious venues like The Breakers and Colony Hotel in Palm Beach, and it donates its cart experience annually to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center's donor event.

Giancarlo's expansion plans are ambitious. A third location is opening in Lantana by November 2025 on Lantana Road at Merchants Walk, and this shop will showcase the brand's complete evolution. "You can really see the progress of the brand throughout the entire process," he explains. "The goal is that when you come into the shop, you feel you are in an authentic gelateria in Italy."

What drives this young businessman isn't just sales numbers or expansion milestones - it's the reactions. When customers walk into the beautifully designed Jupiter location and say "Wow," or when they discover their favorite pistachio gelato tastes exactly like what they had in Bologna, or when someone learns they can finally enjoy dairy-free options that don't compromise on flavor—those moments fuel his passion. "Making people happy with a product that is good, and people come and they get an experience that they wouldn't get in other places in Florida or in the US, that is something that makes me feel so accomplished," he shares.

His team reflects that commitment. Several staff members have been with him since that first day in Delray Beach, and he's there himself several times each week at each location. "There's a young guy behind this who cares so much about the product, offering an excellent product to the customers," Giancarlo emphasizes. "It's me behind all the projects in Palm Beach County."

For Admirals Cove members, the Harborside Place location offers the perfect after-dinner destination or afternoon treat. The shop serves authentic Italian espresso alongside its gelato, with both indoor seating and outdoor tables where you can relax to pleasant music. Whether you're craving classic pistachio, adventurous enough to try seasonal specialties, or need a dairy-free option that actually tastes extraordinary, Gelato & Co. brings a genuine taste of Italy just minutes from home.

As Giancarlo puts it, he's "literally living the American dream"—bringing the best of his Italian heritage to South Florida, one fresh batch of gelato at a time. Stop by the Jupiter location at Harborside Place and experience what happens when passion, tradition, and authenticity meet in a cone (curiously handmade in Australia of all places). Just don't be surprised if you find yourself planning your next event around that elegant gelato cart.