NZ Ice Cream Awards 2024 & Appleby Garden Bar & Kitchen

It has been another outstanding year for Nelson ice cream, gelato and sorbet makers at the annual NZ Ice Cream & Gelato Awards.

New chief judge Geoff Scott says “This year’s NZ Ice Cream & Gelato Awards highlights incredible talent and innovation within New Zealand’s ice cream and gelato industry. The competition is a showcase of dazzling flavours, textures, and styles, each demonstrating the dedication and passion of the makers behind these frozen treats.

“From classic favourites to daring and inventive combinations, the medal winners set the standard for excellence in the New Zealand ice cream and gelato industry.”

New Zealand Creameries, Appleby Farms, Pengunio and Gelato Roma have been awarded medals in the 2024 awards. A total of 40 medals from 169 awarded nationally came to Nelson. That’s one quarter of all medals awarded coming to this region, an incredible endorsemnt for the quality of ice cream and gelato being made here.

Appleby Farms brought home six medals; three gold, two silver and one bronze. Penguino Ice Cream Café  collected two medals; one silver and one bronze while New Zealand Creameries in Motueka waltzed away with 14 medals; seven gold medals, three silver and four bronze medals.

However it was the boutique producer Gelato Roma winning eight medals that caught my attention. Four gold medals, three silver and two bronze awards was an incredible achievement for Kym and Chris Jack who only bought the business a couple of years ago.

Kym says “We are so thrilled with the awards.” They received gold medals for their Chocolate Gelato, Hazelnut Gelato and both the Raspberry and Lemon Sorbets. Add to that silver medals for their Black Cherry Ripple, Salted Caramel Gelato, Vanilla Gelato and a bronze medal for the tasty Hokey Pokey Gelato and you have an exceptional lineup of award winning, very tasty treats.

Judges comments included describing the Salted Caramel Gelato as having “Delightful mouthfeel, not too overwhelmingly creamy so that the judges could come back for a second scoop!” and saying the Chocolate Gelato has “Beautiful flavour and creaminess. Intensely chocolate. Strong bitter (in a good way) but balanced” and the Raspberry Sorbet as “we loved the fresh raspberry ‘tang’. Stunning flavour.”

When I wrote about Gelato Roma in January 2023 Kym told me they bought the business because they could see the potential, and because Chris loves gelato. I think a key to the success of the Gelato Roma products is that they use as many local and premium ingredients as they can, starting with premium A2 Milk from Oaklands.

Kym told me that it’s all about quality from the base ingredients to the finished product, they source fresh raspberries and boysenberries from local Tasman growers and get fresh hazelnuts from a grower in Canterbury. They use Pic’s Peanut Butter and their chocolate gelato is made using 73% Belgian chocolate. Chris’s love of cooking comes to the fore in making some of the flavour ingredients Gelato Roma use, including the hokey pokey.

The Hokey Pokey Gelato isn’t the traditional version Kiwis are familiar with, it’s layered into the gelato and is finished with a layer on top too rather than blend it through the gelato.

To see a truly boutique producer of deliciousness achieving accolades like these medals shows they are doing many things right.

You can see all the winners at the NZ Ice Cream & Gelato Awards 2024 by going to www.nzicecreamandgelato.co.nz

Appleby Garden Bar & Kitchen 

A new café has arrived in an old spot in the region, the complex at Appleby that used to be home to La Capilla and a burger café. The new owners spent a couple of months renovating the old building and gardens getting the front part of the property ready for a great owner/chef to create a perfect, dog friendly, destination.

You may remember Neil Ward as the chef at the old Waimea Estates café, his new venture, Appleby Garden Bar & Kitchen, opened a couple of weeks ago and when we visited, I was hugely impressed with both the venue and the quality of the food.

The menu isn’t huge but has something for everyone. And while the food may seem simple it is Neil’s focus on letting beautiful ingredients shine that makes the food delicious and this café a great addition to the region’s dining scene.

I chose the burger while Karen had the pork, herbs, ponzu dumplings and we shared a bowl of fries smothered in parmesan cheese and a tangy mayo. The house-made dumplings are packed with flavour while my beef, Swiss cheese, pickle, mayo, iceberg burger was made using premium beef cooked to juicy perfection.

Appleby garden Bar & Kitchen is open from Wednesday to Sunday each week and the don’t close until 7pm, making it the perfect place for a quiet drink and meal after a hard day at work. Or for brunch or lunch of course. Check out www.applebygardenbarandkitchen.com

Published in the Nelson Mail 28-08-2024