Giapo Haute Ice Cream offers the most creative and probably the best ice cream and gelato products in New Zealand. The secret? The unending passion of the owners to stand out and change the way we view this frozen treat.
WRITTEN BY BERG GO
PHOTOS COURTESY OF GIAPO HAUTE ICE CREAM
ADDITIONAL PHOTO COURTESY OF BERG GO
Almost nobody says no to ice cream. No matter the time and the weather, there is just no way we would pass on the chance to get a taste of this delicious creamy dessert. It has such a powerful hold on our sweet tooth that even its simplest presentation can make many of us drool in delight.
But imagine taking the ice cream experience to a whole new level—to getting something you’ve never tasted before. How would that not make your sweet tooth even more excited?
Giapo Grazioli and his wife Annarosa display crowd favorites, the Blackberry and Martini and the Colossal Squid.
Giapo Haute Ice Cream, an ice cream store in New Zealand, takes the gelato experience up a notch, with its out-of-this-world artisanal ice cream products that defy all levels of imagination. Owners Giapo Grazioli and his wife Annarosa, believe that ice cream has to “carry a different narrative.” Using their knowledge in humanities and food technology to create the most impressive-looking products for their customers, the couple has set out to change everyone’s image of what ice cream should be all about. True to their passion, they’re doing it in the most unique way possible.
Passion, not just business
Giapo Haute Ice Cream is a result of the couple wanting to give the Italian gelato tradition a new twist. Through the years, that fire for innovation has made the store into one of the most sought-after dessert shops in the country.
And while there have been so many attempts to best this haute ice cream kitchen, not one has succeeded. This is perhaps because only Giapo and Annarosa are the ones who see ice cream not just as a business product, but also as an art form—each product is like a well-thought-out masterpiece. They think of only unconventional ways to differentiate the customer and culinary experience, one which Giapo describes as creating a “new language for ice cream.” The couple’s vision is more personal, and therefore, much harder to defeat.
Giapo’s team is currently looking into studies on how to make chocolate glow with the use of bioluminescent bacteria, as well as creating a better yogurt. If that’s not passion for innovation, we don’t know what is.
The Colossal Squid
A sense of surprise
Giapo Haute Ice Cream has truly made a reputation for offering ice cream products with designs and flavor that know no limits, which is why your visit there will include quite a number of surprises. For one, there is no display of the ice cream or gelato products they offer. They will instead ask you about your taste preference (if you’re a sweet or a savory person), and they will guide you through their menu by providing a spoonful free taste of their flavors on offer (Tip: Try every flavor they ask you to taste. It’s worth it!).
Once you’ve decided on your taste preference, everything will then be up to the ice cream chefs. The exciting thing about it is that even though you’ve determined the flavor or the design you want, you still wouldn’t know exactly what you will get or how overwhelming the presentation of your order is going to be. The Giapo team carefully creates each order with a little bit of suspense—from the design down to the toppings. You can get ice cream products in the form of a giant chocolate squid, a copy of Auckland’s Sky Tower, Easter eggs, a space ship, or turtles—you name it! Another surprise? Their servings are big!
The Skytower – Edible version.
Fried Maori Bread
Hot Chips and Ice Cream
A WIN IN BOTH DESIGN AND TASTE
Giapo Haute Ice Cream has already raked in so many great reviews for its designs, one would have to wonder if the taste lives up to the hype. However, the shop assures ice cream lovers that the flavors of their products are as good as the presentations—and all customers can attest to that. They have set the bar incredibly high not just in creativity, but also in palatability. Giapo’s team makes sure they explore all the angles of what delicious should be. The consistently long lines of customers flocking the store are more than enough to prove that.
Giapo Haute Ice Cream also offers vegan and gluten-free options in their menu!
Easter Eggs
Giapo is located at 12 Gore Street, Auckland, New Zealand. For more information, email <[email protected]> or visit <giapo.com>
