Franklin Park gelato maker supplies local groceries, restaurants
FRANKLIN PARK, Ill. (WLS) -- Summertime may be brief, but it's certainly a good excuse to eat a lot of gelato. Some of the best gelato is made by an Italian in Franklin Park, and chances are you've already tried it.
If you've ever bought a pint of gelato at Whole Foods or Piggly Wiggly, or even from a neighborhood restaurant, there's a good chance Angelo Quercia was behind it. With 40 years of experience, the man many restaurants turn to has now expanded his offerings by upgrading to a new facility in Franklin Park, allowing him to ship all over the country.
From the outside, the non-descript warehouse reveals little. But inside, Quercia is churning out thousands of gallons of gelato and sorbetto every week, most of which will end up in local grocery stores and independent restaurants.
"It's different from American ice cream, made with fresh ingredients like milk, cream, sugar and pectin," Quercia said.
Also no eggs, and it's churned with very little air, which makes it denser than ice cream. Quercia makes about 100 different flavors, storing them all in the largest freezer I've ever seen. One holds about a week's worth of product.
"I do custom flavor for a lot of people like basil, carrot, you want champagne or rose champagne or lavender," he said.
The most popular flavors? Pistachio, chocolate, lemon and hazelnut. But there's no shame in some mango sorbet or raspberry, or really anything he makes. His 40 years of experience shine through in every pint.
"Lotta passion and a lot of love, put a lot of love in the gelato to make the best," Quercia said.
In the Chicago area, customers can find Angelo Gelato Italiano at more than 200 stores including:
Joe Caputo; Butera; Piggly Wiggly; Brook Haven; Valli Produce; Fresh Farms; Tony Finer Foods; Big Apple Finer Food; Tony Fresh Market; Garden Fresh; and Whole Foods.
Restaurant clients include: The Signature Room at the 95th; Cone Gourmet Ice Cream; Quartino Restaurant; Mama Maria Pizza in Bensenville; Capri in Berwyn; Basil Greek; Basilico; Market Place on Oakton; Lake Forest Academy; Cucina Bella in Algonquin; and Dog Days Ice Cream Parlor.
To get more information:
(630) 227-1777
