Last night Queenstown’s Patagonia Chocolates scooped the New Zealand Ice Cream & Gelato Awards, with its hazelnut cremino winning the supreme award, boutique champion and champion standard ice cream.
For company founder Alex Gimenez, originally from Argentina, the win justifies five years’ work on the sweet treat - and a $120,000 investment into a full line of equipment to process the Central Otago nuts, which are hand roasted and turned into a paste.
Mr Gimenez, speaking before the awards were announced in Auckland last night, said he was "really in love" with the end product.
The hazelnuts had the same sweetness and flavour profiles as the best available in Italy.
Chief judge Jackie Matthews agreed, noting they provided a "delicate and truly authentic flavour, which combined with a superbly-crafted and well-made ice cream is simply stunning, deserving of the supreme award".
A total of 16 trophies were awarded in Auckland last night, including the supreme commercial champion, which was awarded to Allied Faxi New Zealand Food Co for its G’nature vanilla ice cream, which also won the champion premium vanilla ice cream award.
Auckland’s Island Gelato Co, won the champion gelato award for its sour cherry and darkest chocolate flavour, while its rich chocolate won the champion chocolate award.
