Author:
Mariia Kucova
At two Gelarty café glacé coffee shops, run by the Ukrainian craft ice cream producer Massimo Gelarty, you can now find "VoIceCream" with the unique flavors of carrot-chocolate and cola-cherry. These flavors were created by the young beneficiaries of the “Voices of Children” Charitable Foundation.
It seems like we've created ice cream out of everything imaginable — salmon, liver, horseradish, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, hoisin sauce, red cactus… At times, it feels like we've exhausted all possible ideas. Asking children for their input was a new experience for us,
noted Liliia Holubieva, owner and gelato chef at Massimo Gelarty.
noted Liliia Holubieva, owner and gelato chef at Massimo Gelarty.
How to Bring a Child’s Imagination to Life
A total of 45 children from the Kyiv, Ternopil, and Dnipro centers of the “Voices of Children” Charitable Foundation participated in the project. From June 22 to 29, they dreamed up the kind of ice cream they would create if they had their production line. Among all the flavors imagined, the gelato chef selected two that could be feasibly made: carrot-chocolate and cola-cherry.
A tasting panel of 13 children — independent experts — chose carrot-chocolate as the winning flavor. To determine the best dessert, the children filled out tasting forms, rating the ice cream’s taste, texture, and overall appearance on a 5-point scale.
According to the children’s feedback, the winning ice cream will appeal not only to carrot lovers but also to chocolate enthusiasts, as both ingredients have a strong, distinct presence in the dessert.
Proceeds from the sales of the carrot-chocolate ice cream will go towards the foundation’s "Bring Joy to Ukraine’s Defenders’ Children" project. Additionally, Massimo Gelarty has launched the cola-cherry flavor as a commercial product, which ranked first among the brand’s Instagram followers.
I liked everything. It was both sour and sweet, but still tasty,
commented one of the young tasters.
commented one of the young tasters.
Both flavors of "VoIceCream" feature unique price tags adorned with the children’s drawings.
More About the Creators of "VoIceCream"
The carrot-chocolate ice cream was created by 12-year-old Mariia. As a reward for her winning idea, she will receive a personalized jar of her dessert.
The idea came to me right during the event at the center when everyone was brainstorming. Someone suggested borscht-flavored ice cream, and I thought of carrot and chocolate. I like carrots, and once, when I was little, I asked my mom to peel one for me so I could eat it,
Mariia shared.
Mariia shared.
The girl moved from Melitopol to Dnipro and began participating in activities at the local Voices of Children center. She dreams of creating her own art gallery and already has a small one in the Dnipro center’s building.
Cola-cherry ice cream was invented by 8-year-old Anna, who relocated from Kherson to Kyiv and also started attending the local “Voices of Children” center. Her love for combining flavors comes from her mother, who, after being forced to move, started her own business making macarons.
My favorite flavor of my mom’s desserts is cherry-cola, so I really wanted ice cream with that flavor,
Anna shared.
Anna shared.
As a reward, the girl will receive a certificate for free ice cream tasting for her entire family at any Massimo Gelarty restaurant in Kyiv.
Follow the link to support the work of our foundation in psychological and psychosocial support for children and parents.
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