Category Archive: ChasingBella

Summer Streets

Monday, August 16th, 2010

Getting ready for New York’s Summer Streets wasn’t much different than any other event: gather up the appropriate amount of samples, promotional materials, and everything else and we’re ready to go.  The catch for this event – we had to be there by 6am before NYPD closed down the streets.

After convincing myself that the clock really did say 4am and that it really was time to get going – i got ready and headed to the office to load up our gelatomobiles.  I met up with LilBella and we made our traffic-free commute into NYC. Upon arrival we met up with our friends from Whole Foods who were short a delivery truck to transport dozens of bags of ice and brewed coffee from their store to the event. Lucky for them our one van was almost entirely empty (except for the freezers) and we lent a hand in getting all their supplies over to the picnic area.

After that we had a few hours to kill before it was time for the ice cream rush. After a quick bite to eat, LilBella decided it was time to catch up on some lost sleep. I seized the downtime as the opportunity to explore what Summer Streets had to offer. Everything from pilates classes and yoga instruction to double dutch and street tennis were getting started on Park Avenue.  Rollerblade was kind enough to offer free skate rentals and well..I couldn’t resist. I skated my way up from 24th street to Grand Central Station and saw NYC in a way you wouldn’t usually get to with out any cars. I took note of the dumpster pools everyone has been talking about – one of the most unique creations I’ve seen in a while.

Before I knew it 10 o’clock was ticking close and it was time to feed the masses. The moment we starting rolling the carts towards our spot, dozens of people started lining up for samples. So many that the Summer Streets staff brought out the velvet ropes and funneled the line down the block.

Sample after sample was given out to an amazingly diverse group of New Yorkers and travelers.  Entire families came by with their children, couples rolled up on skates, teenagers still with their bike helmets on, joggers, nearby store owners, visitors from the UK and France – you name it, and they were there at Summer Streets enjoying a Blood Orange or Sicilian Lemon Sorbet.

Ciao Bella will be at Summer Streets for next week on Saturday August 21 from 10am-1pm at the Whole Foods picnic area on the corner of Park and 24th. If you’ve missed us the past two weeks this the last chance to enjoy summer in NYC in a great atmosphere before this amazing weather passes us by.

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Pre-flight ice cream anyone?

Sunday, July 18th, 2010

I don’t know about the rest of the Ciao Bella fans out there, but I truly enjoy flying. Some people find it stressful, but maybe I’ve just been fortunate with only good experiences to go by. For me it’s always been somewhat of an adventure; looking forward to going somewhere for the first time or visiting somewhere you truly love.

This past Friday was somewhat of an adventure in itself. Dropping off our signature gelato cart involved me driving on the runway next to the airplanes and security trucks (pretty cool). After going back inside and passing through security, I arrived at our Terminal C location. The gelato bar here is part of The Grove Snacks station that also features quick and good-for-you snacks such as dried fruit, nuts, teas and sweets. The employees were Ciao Bella fanatics, each with their favorite flavors and combinations. The rest of the airport’s employees were also fans and before I knew it there was a line of baggage checkers, porters, and stewardesses all eager for samples. Everyone really appreciated the mid-work treats and I think Malted Milk Ball turned a lot of people into believers.

Afterwards I was on my way to Terminal B (pre-security) to our location inside of famous Famiglia. The restaurant here was packed full of families waiting to say goodbye to each other and individuals biding time before their flights. During their long wait they were more than willing to spend some time sampling some of our Mango Sorbet, a perfect time-killer. Even many of the travelers that didn’t speak English enjoyed the product; a big smile and a thumbs-up translates to any language. It’s easy to lose track of time inside an airport, where the crowds never stop and everyone is on their own clock. Before I knew it the sampling was over and it was for me to fly away..[ahem]..drive home (wishful thinking).


A special thanks to John, the regional director for the Grove, for helping out with all the logistics of getting to the loading dock and passing through security. Also to Imara, the assistant manager at the Grove, for organizing the day and being such a big fan of our Passion Fruit sorbet! And last but not least, the wonderful employees at Famous Famiglia who wanted to show off their love of Ciao Bella.

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Celebrate Flatiron Chefs

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

Looking out of the office onto a scene of a morning downpour, I thought to myself “well this is going to be a fun event”.  Outdoor events are a great way to meet customers, especially in the summertime, but they’re also a great way to experience how unpredictable the weather is.  Today we happened to luck out – by the time we were heading towards the Holland Tunnel they rain had slowed and the sun decided to come out for a moment or two.

Arriving upon a highly decorated Madison Square Park, LilBella and I began setting up alongside some of NYC’s most popular chefs.  Within minutes the smell of tempting hors d’œuvres and desserts were making their way through the 110% humidity and into the noses of the fellow restaurateurs.  Following a picture of all the chefs in front of the park’s fountain at 5:15, the event was underway!

The first VIP guests wandered around sampling here and there, often juggling a gourmet burger and cocktail in one hand while they reached for a sorbet in the other.  As the night went on the desire for dessert became even stronger as the line for gelato & sorbet became even longer.  Countless customers walked up with cheeky comments such as “you look like the most popular tent here tonight, I’m sure it’s your personalities :wink: ” or “with this kind of weather I think you’ll serve every guest here”.  We may not have served every guest there, but we definitely made some fans who were delighted to come back for seconds and thirds.  Our event assistant, Thuy, was more than eager to give rave reviews about the products to passing guests after falling in love with the peach ginger sorbet.

Once my feet were back on the ground in Jersey, I looked back on the day with confidence.  Despite its gloomy beginnings, this was my first event where all the logistics worked out without a hitch (no traffic, easy parking, and quick set-up).  All in all – the food was great, the guests were happy and the event all went to a great cause of preserving green space in urban communities.  Ciao Bella has taken part in this event for the past few years now and we’ll surely be back again next year.

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Hoboken: One Square Mile Surrounded by Reality

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010


Going to Hoboken is as much of a treat as snacking on Ciao Bella on a hot day. Luckily, I had a combination of both the other day during my demo experience at Kings Supermarket in Hoboken, New Jersey. After spending quite some time trying to find a parking space (which I did finally along the Hudson River looking out at Manhattan), I trekked the uphill slalom to get to my destination: Kings Supermarket, right in the heart of Hoboken on River Street.

It’s not the typical Kings Supermarket (meaning there is no aforementioned parking), but that didn’t detract Hobokenites from picking up their favorite frozen treats to beat the stick-to-your-skin heat. We sampled the Coconut Sorbet and the Tahitian Vanilla Gelato, both crowd pleasers. So many people walked into the store dripping in sweat, or with that exhausted look on their face, that they were very pleased to see two pints of Ciao Bella staring them in the face. My favorite moment was trading Ciao Bella stories with a sweet older woman who has been buying us for years. Myself and all the other Ciao Bella team members love hearing your stories, so don’t hold back!

Hoboken has a great riverside park that has tennis courts, a basketball court, a skate park, running trails, and great open grassy piers that look out onto Hoboken’s cousin Manhattan. I can think of nothing better than breathing in the river air, sitting on a grassy knoll overlooking the Big Apple, and enjoying a rich, delicious pint of Ciao Bella gelato or sorbet. If you’re in the Hoboken area, stop by your local Kings for a selection of our pints, single serves, and novelties!

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Hot Days, Cold IceCream

Monday, July 12th, 2010

It’s ninety – one degrees outside and a tad too hot for golf, don’t you think? Fortunately, it’s not to hot for some Ciao Bella!  The event at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club was hosted by A & P as a fundraiser to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).  Many people from many different companies came out to golf and help donate money.  I think for that they deserved some Ciao Bella – to keep them cool, and to keep them going!

Right from the start – even before we started serving – we were a hit.  Doug, the event coordinator at Fiddler’s Elbow, came to greet us when we entered the clubhouse at the start of the day.  Right off the bat he was praising the Blackberry Cabernet sorbet, as well as rattling off calorie numbers for that and the Blood Orange.  I think he liked Ciao Bella…just a little bit.

We wound up setting up near hole number ten, right beside the clubhouse and somewhat halfway through the course.  People zipped past the truck all day on their golf carts as they approached the halfway point.  Many people stopped to pick up a single serve cup, and as the day went on, the need for some gelato or sorbet, outside in the heat, increased.

As lunchtime approached, the want for some Ciao Bella became more prevalent.  Even a hangout spot had formed in front of the truck where golf carts were parked as people enjoyed their ice cream.  Some people came back two or even three times to try a variety of flavors.  Many people just HAD to try the pistachio after hearing “rave reviews” about it.  It quickly became the most popular flavor of the day, and it was clear it was loved as people moaned in delight as they drove off after taking their first bite. Those who tried a different flavor, or decided to hangout in front of our gelato mobile, loved the product – after finding out the spoon was under the lid that is!

As the day approached two o’ clock, the amount of people asking for some gelato or sorbet died down.  We still had a few stragglers who were coming for their first taste of some Ciao Bella, but we also had a few people asking for a second or third taste.  All in all it was a great day with lots of ice cream, and lots of golf carts.  But just always remember – the spoon is under the lid! =]

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