MAY, We Celebrate!

Celebrate, dance to the music in the month of May.  Occasions galore over the next 31 days provide reason to reward, indulge and shake-a-foot, always.  Make this May and the events it brings more delightful than ever with simple, delicious ways to spread Happiness all month long.

Celebrations begin tomorrow on May 1st for May Day, a Spring welcoming from generations long ago that included a carefree dance around a birch tree branch also know as a May Pole. May 6th is National Teacher Appreciation Day 2014 to honor the educators of America with recognition of the hard work that is important to the future of the children and the nation.   Show Momma some love this Mother’s Day on May 8th, a thoughtful sweet is a sure way to warm her heart.  Beyond the marked calendar dates graduation and wedding season kicks-off. This is the time of year with plenty of opportunity to incorporate extra detail to the celebration and reward the special person of honor at any event.  

Scoop Some Happiness from Pino Gelato 

The happy plans incorporate gelato to celebrate May (don't forget the dancing, that is a must):

Mother’s Day Brunch: Strawberry-Gelato Shortcakes

adapted from BonAppetit Strawberry-Basil Shortcakes recipe

Follow the best shortcake recipe found in awhile above from BonAppetit making substitutions of vanilla gelato for crème fraîche, and mint sprigs for basil.  Worthy of note is the variation to use strawberry gelato and keep the crème fraîche!

photo credit: BONAPPETIT.COM

Custom gelato cakes for graduation celebrations! Honor the mascot of the college a student selected or a nod to any outstanding achievement made during the years in school.

Gelato and toppings bar are a big hit for adults and kids at parties and weddings. This is a great way to incorporate an individuals favorites. Licorice lover being celebrated? The opposite of a slew of toppings, form shoelace licorice into a heart on each scoop of gelato for a simple DIY topping and an adorable uniformed dessert.

photo credit:
frenchblue-frenchblue.blogspot.com

For a more sophisticated fete, provide a gelato cart with white glove service Scooping Happiness to guests or presented in champagne flutes.  Sweet days ahead, thank you to the month of May!

How will you embrace the season of gatherings that begin and celebrate in May?

Mud and Gelato

One of the better ways to celebrate Earth Day, is to be covered in mud! Mud runs with variables meant to test physical, mental, and social strength have become a fitness trend across the nation. The Citadel's 17th annual Bulldog Challenge this Saturday, April 20, 2013 is the ultimate endurance course featuring The Lowcountry's pluff mud or "life draining marsh" as it is referred to on the challenge official website. Pino Gelato is proud to be on board as a sponsor of The Bulldog Challenge hosted by The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina.

The Bulldog Challenge is self described as a grueling six mile (10k)endurance course that will push a competitor and their three team mates to the limit with obstacles encountered throughout meant to cause "friction" to those daring to compete. Previous course involvement has boasted a USMC rope climb, carrying 25 lb sand bags through pluff mud, and wrestling of giant truck tires. With The Citadel, known as The Military College of South Carolina, playing host to the event participants should expect the extreme (one obstacle is dubbed "The House of Pain") as far as difficulty. Luckily, the enrolled and truly brave, Citadel Marines and NROTC cadets are on course for encouragement along the way.


Bulldog Challenge competitors!

The Bulldog Challenge has grown in popularity with national awareness attracting 724 competitors to last year's event, this Saturday's event is likely to surpass that number according to The Citadel. The growing attendance and attention is welcomed with the clause of the race proceeds raising a donation to Semper Fi Society Scholarship Fund, which provides financial aid to a participating member of the society enrolled in NROTC and working toward a commission in the United States Marine Corps.

Ready to Scoop this Saturday!

Mud runs certainly engage contestants with Earth and are widely used as recreation to commemorate Earth Day. Beyond the climate of race day, even beyond the mud, is a celebration of community and encouragement played out with prizes given by numerous sponsors and donations. To sweeten the finish line Pino Gelato will be at The Bulldog Challenge with our gelato cart Scooping Happiness to participants as they breathe in relief after completing the grueling course.

Yes, join this military style mud run or perhaps spectator at this event whilst consuming gelato and engage in another activity in spirit of Earth Day, say by planting a small tree.

For more information or to register for The Bulldog Challenge visit: www.bulldogchallenge.com

For info on Earth Day, Monday, April 22, 2013 visit: www.Earthday.org/2013

Gelato for Weddings

Excitement, love, and happiness are quickly followed by the momentous undertaking of arrangements for "The Big Day". After the holidays concurrent with the peak engagement season have passed, the wedding planning must begin. Thread the bubble of love throughout planning all the way to the guests present on that special Wedding day and share A Scoop of Happiness with them by way of gelato.

 

At a spectacular New England wedding weekend last year featured was a pizza truck slinging individual pies to guests after a backyard welcome party/rehearsal dinner. While this highlighted the evening celebration and ultimately extended festivities well into the morning, noted missing: something sweet was in order as well. Pino Gelato offers gelato carts that would be a major hit in similarly structured pre-wedding events. A gelato cart would be ideal for a rehearsal dinner's more casual fare treating those closest to the couple and/or welcoming guests whom traveled long distances while typically working to set the vibe for the duration of the wedding's activities. The rich, creamy texture and endless flavors of gelato would certainly set the bar high and provide a welcome smile to all. The gelato cart would be a stellar ensemble to stations at any type of wedding, itself being completely customizable. The cart option is completely surreal for any child attendee, yet also the perfect treat to capture the playfulness in guests of any age group. Pino Gelato's cart represents that fun, happy, love filled bubble a couple wishes guests to share in during their wedding.

 

Regardless of the amount of enjoyment or disdain a couple has during varying parts of wedding planning, it is often unimaginable to associate feeling stressed about the dessert. Especially so if the couple has thought beyond just cake.

Gelato can be used as a tool to incorporate wedding colors at dessert time. Often a couple can be swayed toward the current trends. Instead of falling victim to a gimmick or even the impractical (try to endure a make-your-own-vegan-cupcake-bar = mess, not to mention a bevy of ruined formal wear) dessert of the moment, steer secure to the option gelato lends to tradition. Select a custom or favorite flavor scoop of gelato to serve alongside the slice of wedding cake for a tasteful compliment and instant boost from mundane without going overboard. Gelato meets both visual and taste appeal for a simplistic, elegant, and decadent pairing to any wedding cake. Wedding colors can also be carried by gelato spoons or dishes in vast gradients from authentic to the most outlandish and fancy.


Prevent the overload of wedding prep from surpassing in priority to the initial bubble of joy an engagement brings to a couple and their families by creating opportunities for notable elements that incorporate all of the excitement to assure all the wonderful is passed along to those partaking in "The Big Day". Tap into the happiness and picture how lighthearted and memorable serving gelato to guests will be.