ottawa foodies

Much thanks to everyone who is helping in the “Restaurant in Development” thread. I thought this forum would be interested in these results.

Before deciding to open my own restaurant I was negotiating on a Toronto based gelato bar franchise called Mad Italian. In considering this franchise, I brought a sample of Mad Italian gelato to Ottawa and purchased the same flavours from four local gelato makers.

On two different nights I held a blind taste test. I know this is far from scientific but I did my best. I asked my participants (eight each night) to rate (1) texture (2) taste and (3) overall.

Here is how the ranking played out overall. I wish I had tested Pure but I didn’t.

First night:
1 Mad Italian
2 Stella Luna
3 Piccolo Grande
4 Truffles
5 Gelatini

Second night:
1 Stella Luna
2 Mad Italian
3 Gelatini
4 Piccolo Grande
5 Truffles

Mad Italian and Stella Luna also ranked above the others. In other words, it was a two way tie for first and a three way tie for second.

I hope to make gelato that approaches Stella Luna.

Thanks for this FlyingBanzini.

I feel I've been living under a rock since I looove gelato and my go-to place has always been Piccolo. But now I'm excited to try Stella Luna.

I can't really speak to local gelato, but could I put in a request for spumoni?

Used to be my favourite ice cream, but these days it has fallen off the planet.

Totally agree with Baconated Grapefruit: Spumoni ice cream is hard to come by these days.

I used to love it as a kid and, knowing what's in it, I am positive I'll still be ga-ga for it.

I can't believe you were taste testing gelato and missed Pure Gelato on Elgin. By far the best.

ETA: Sorry, read your post too quickly and missed your acknowledgment of Pure. Still stand by my comments though. :)

For the next round of taste testing, I'd highly recommend: Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana
Really superb gelato.