To start off the summer, Princess Cruises has announced an "authentic" gelato experience aboard Discovery Princess, Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess. According to the cruise line, Princess Cruises' gelato shops have received a "Ospitalità Italiana" designation, making them the " first and only locations to offer an authentic Italian gelato experience outside of Italy."
The Ospitalità Italiana designation is issued by an organization of the Italian government, and confirms that every step of the gelato-making process meets or exceeds a set of standards as approved by official Italian experts, who review the process on a yearly basis. Only gelato shops that attain "outstanding quality" status are awarded the official Ospitalità Italiana certification.
According to Princess, its onboard gelato shops handcraft the frozen sweet fresh with Italian-certified ingredients and equipment each day in the pastry kitchens of the cruise line’s three newest ships – Discovery Princess, Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess. Corporate pastry chef Eric Le Rouzic trained with the Italian chefs at the Gelato Carpigiani University in Bologna and the Gelato Comprital Atheneum in Milano to master the art of making the dish. In addition, Princess uses "top-of-line" gelato machines by manufacturer Carpigiani and its Gelato display cases were produced in Italy by craftsmen.
“The ‘Ospitalità Italiana’ is a tremendous extension of our Italian heritage and gives us the opportunity to immerse our guests into the unique Italian culture found throughout Italy in our very own piazza,” said John Padgett, Princess Cruises president.
“The designation also recognizes the incredible dedication of our pastry chefs and their passion to offer truly authentic experiences and the very best ingredients to our guests.”
While it’s creamy, gelato has less butter fat and fewer calories compared to ice cream. Eggs, sugar and extracts are combined with fruit and milk daily, not requiring the extra fat from cream that is needed in ice cream for a longer shelf life. As a result, a scoop of gelato is 80-100 calories and the sorbet or “fruit gelato” has no fat and is only 50-60 calories, with no dairy.
Princess guests can choose from a variety of flavors – favorites like fior di latte (vanilla) and cioccolato (chocolate), to tiramisu, Nutella and caramello salato (salted carmel). The menu even offers dairy-free, fat-free sorbets and sugar-free gelato. Guests can enjoy gelato on its own, with toppings or in combinations as “affogato” (with liqueur) or “coppe,” including indulgent creations like nutellone (Nutella gelato, Nutella and whipped cream) or amaretto and peaches (amaretto gelato, fresh sliced peaches and meringue drops).
For more information on Princess Cruises, visit its web site.
