News / Panunzio’s Kitchen
Bristol gelato maker to represent UK in ‘European Masters’
A gelateria in Bristol has secured a spot in a competition dubbed as the European Masters of gelato-making, which will be held in Italy later this year.
Panunzio’s Kitchen Gelati Italiani on Cotham Hill triumphed in the Hereford heat of the competition, organised by Carpigiani UK. The competition, which took place in late autumn, included three regional heats—Manchester, London, and Hereford—each crowning one winner.
Daniele Panunzio, founder and owner of Panunzio’s Kitchen, is one of three gelato makers selected to represent the UK in the European Masters. This prestigious event will bring together the most creative and innovative gelato makers from across Europe.
Following his regional victory, Daniele had to temporarily close the gelato shop for the winter. But now he is back after a long hiatus, proudly displaying his accolade, which has guaranteed him a place in the European Masters.
The award-winning Monte Bianco that won Daniele a place in European Masters of gelato-making
Bristol24/7 recently visited him just after he opened for summer.
His award-winning gelato dish was a gamble in itself, but Daniele chose it as a tribute to his grandmother. He named his goat cheese and strawberry gelato “Scooplable Memory,” a reflection of his childhood and teenage years in Rome.
He explained: “It was a huge gamble to use goat cheese for a dessert because it’s a tricky ingredient. Some people absolutely loathe it. But we managed to create something that even people who aren’t particularly fond of goat cheese were pleasantly surprised by.
“Our creation, ‘Monte Bianco,’ is actually a tribute to my grandmother. She used to make a dessert with White Lake goat’s cheese, caramelised salted pecans, and fresh raspberry sauce.”
Panunzio’s current repertoire includes some 15 flavours
In the regional competition, Daniele wowed the judges with his unorthodox choice of ingredients.
Daniele’s gelato journey began in Rome, where he became fascinated by the science and artistry behind gelato in his teens. He honed his skills while attending school, and his first major breakthrough came when he opened a gelateria on the Adriatic Coast.
The success of this venture led to another gelateria in the same region. However, he craved a new challenge and, as he puts it, “spread his wings,” moving to London in 2012.
He and his wife Thary later decided to relocate to Bristol, as London was not the most conducive environment for starting a new business, according to Daniele.
Reflecting on the move, Daniele said: “Bristol has an amazing food and drink scene. The people are great, and they really appreciate artisans. So, it felt like the right decision to come here.”
After a failed attempt to open a shop on Whiteladies Road, Daniele was forced to find work to support his young family. His short stint in marketing turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it sharpened his skills in product development, promotion and customer service.
But the call of gelato was so strong. He and his wife often attended the farmers’ market on Whiteladies Road and the Sunday market at Tobacco Factory.
Husband-and-wife-duo, Daniele and Thary, launched Panunzio’s Kitchen back in June 2022
After the pandemic, it was now or never for the couple. In June 2022, Daniele and Thary opened Panunzio’s Kitchen Gelati Italiani. The unusually warm summer proved to be a blessing for the fledgling business, generating buzz about the new gelato shop in town. This led to long queues snaking down Cotham Hill.
Daniele said: “It was absolutely phenomenal. We hardly spent any time on advertising, and most of it was mostly through word of mouth. We’re happy about our loyal following.”
With new flavours in the pipeline, Panunzio’s Gelati Italiani now serves around 15 flavours, each made with carefully selected ingredients from around the world, such as Sri Lankan coconut, Madagascan vanilla, and Lebanese rosewater.
The gelateria’s offerings did not go unnoticed, and it was crowned the best dessert shop in Bristol at the England’s Business Awards in 2024.
Panunzio’s Kitchen is part of the vibrant food and drink scene on Cotham Hill
Daniele, a lifelong AS Roma fan, described the European Masters as the “Champions League” of gelato. He is relishing the opportunity to compete in his native Italy and reminisced about Francesco Totti’s wonder goal against Inter Milan – one I had to check. Yes, it was stunning. Daniele is confident that his gelato servings will be as equally remarkable.
All photos: Milan Perera
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