Go Ahead, Have a Field Day!

“Let’s go fly a kite…”, but really, when is the last time partaking in an activity for pure enjoyment was a top goal of the day?  As the public is reawakened by hectic work and school schedules a yearning for some good ol’ fashioned fun should be a priority.  Summer is at near end, but the recreation associated with the season sure can continue.  Engage in activities that produce merriment and delight for any age.  Rally together neighbors, family/friends, or colleagues for organized (semi-organized is acceptable) team sports such as flag football, kickball or volleyball.  This may be the perfect way to spend a lunch hour per week!  Take glee to the next level and have a field day.  Host events in the backyard or a community park. The field day can include sack races, an obstacle course, and an amusing outdoor version of the game Twister that is painted right onto the grass in the yard!

Photo Credit: Katie Haines

In the instance physical games are not accommodating, try a new activity as a group ideal for team-building and family fun.  Cooking lessons, a hot air balloon ride, learn to make pottery- all ideas that fit the bill to enjoy part of the day with a focus on simple pleasure. Shift gears to place an importance on having fun in even the most mundane parts of a day-to-day routine, become diligent at it to make happiness contagious. The amount of hilarity that ensues from hoisting up a Pinata is astounding.  

The Italian lifestyle places importance on family gathering and enjoyment each day.  La Bella Vita, meaning ‘the good life’ is a phrase that is not only spoken, but is adhered to. The quick pace of life too often leaves little room for the best of times to be had.  A concerted effort to initiate more family fun or group activities may at first be present, but once established the benefits of laughter, togetherness and achievement are certain to boost overall quality of life.

Will you have FUN today?

A Tribute to Memorial Day

On Monday, the 26th of May 2014 celebrations were held across the nation in recognition for the freedom of America protected daily by those that serve in the military with honor to the men and women who lost their lives serving the country’s armed forces.  Now that the parades, bbqs, and festivals have come and gone let us pay tribute each day to commemorate the men and women and the families of those that have died in war or military action in service of The USA.  The magnitude of appreciation the people of our country have for the armed forces of America was depicted with traditional acts, American flags decorated gravestones for lost soldiers in national cemeteries.

Memorial Day Weekend denotes the kickoff to summer often marked with beach trips, boat or sport outings and picnics to welcome the outdoor season. Festivals are filled with food associated with summer from grilled corn on the cob to fruits at their peak ripeness, truly the time of year that a foodie reigns.  Frozen desserts get a heightened awareness as the temperatures rise, the sunshine becomes standard and people crave a treat to cool down.

Custom gelato cake by Pino Gelato 

The significance of Memorial Day is never to be out shined by the parties and seasonal fun ahead, the utmost order is to honor the heroes of America.  The summer does present the busiest season for gelato, welcomed is the time of year to Scoop Some Happiness to the many customers to be served over the next few months.  Pino Gelato offers a military discount; to the men and women who are serving or have served our country, thank you.

How did you celebrate Memorial Day 2014?

Pino Gelato for Alaqua: First Event a Success!

A fantastic afternoon was spent on April 25, 2014 for the announcement of Pino Gelato support of Alaqua Animal Refuge. The fundraiser took place in Destin, FL at The Village of Baytowne Wharf Pino Gelato location.  The outdoor patio and deck seating was transformed into an Alaqua awareness site by their volunteers all set up for donations, purchases of t-shirts and gift certificate special incentives. The day was complete with Alaqua founder Laurie Hood and her sons ramping up attention to passers by of the event prior to a donation check presentation with Pino Gelato CEO Ramona Fantini (her own doggies in tow). Spotlighting the event was the Alaqua mascot, a three legged boxer, and a puppy with looks and charisma garnering much attention from potential sponsors or those looking to adopt.  

“Your Scoop of Happiness is their Scoop of Hope,” Pino Gelato gives back a portion of annual revenue to animal rescue organizations, acquiring an additional foundation each year.  Discovering Alaqua Animal Refuge and the opportunity to learn the magnitude of their operation has been deemed a sure match for Pino Gelato to advocate for support of their full mission.  The Pino Gelato Team and Board Members were present for the Alaqua event hosted in one of the newly acquired Destin, FL stores that allowed a platform for all to experience a gathering in the local community and truly engage the call to action from the partnership created by Alaqua and Pino Gelato.

Pino Gelato at Baytowne served scoops of gelato, and assorted pastries and sandwiches to the crowd.  A toast of prosecco during the presentation to acknowledge the launch of support to Alaqua was accompanied by words from Hood and Fantini. “Salute!”, followed by a round of applause shared by all.

Special accolades are due to the Alaqua event staff for dedicating their time to a cause that has the utmost respect from Team Pino Gelato and staff.  Thank you for the work and time spent to help arrange this successful event.  The goal is to have many more events to come in order to raise awareness and funds for Alaqua.

To find out more about The Alaqua Animal Refuge and the many ways to offer support, please visit https://www.alaquaanimalrefuge.org/

Stay up-to-date with future happenings at Pino Gelato Baytowne Wharf and other store locations to support Alaqua and all of the animal rescue organizations benefited by the Scoops of Happiness served daily.   

Check out photos from the Pino Gelato & Alaqua event below:

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?

Toast to Happiness!

Winter drab has gone on long enough. People in most parts of the country need a bit of hoopla to entertain at this point.  No need to rush to the local watering hole, keep it downright interesting with an adult beverage, complete with gelato.     

Mixologists have affirmed the creative cocktail trend is here to stay.  More advantageous? Bartenders ahead of the curve are mixing alcohol and gelato to create the happiest of hours in existence.  

Recently, a list of 15 Food Reasons Italians Are Better at Life appeared on Huffington Post (an enthused shout out to numbers 12, and 1), to build upon this accurate list number 16 easily should be Italian liquors.  Campari, Limoncello, Sambuca, Frangelico; the span of flavor across the famed spirits of Italy are ideal to infuse in gelato or sorbetto to create supreme recipes combining alcohol and the luxury frozen dessert.  It is becoming increasingly more common to find gelato with rum or another standard spirit on menus across the world.

A gelato cocktail that will go over well with everyone.

Surely, one of the most fabulous ways to enjoy gelato and get through the impending storms is to add a dash of the “good stuff” for a tasty way to make it to spring.  A favorite gelato cocktail recipe brilliantly uses pistachio gelato, espresso, and coconut to make a luscious concoction.  Worthy modifications include caramel drizzle on the rim, best served in a chilled glass. Honestly, even a "plain" vanilla gelato cocktail is delicious.

Gelato and Italian liquors add sophistication to dessert time and/or happy hour.  Celebrate this match made in heaven with a gelato cocktail toast to happiness!

Pino Gelato is available in quarts and pints for you to order to make your own gelato cocktail recipe at home! Please share your favorites with us in the comments section. Salute!

Gelato on a Diet

New Year, new you… same sweet tooth. Temptations to cheat on resolutions are peaking by this point, but there is a guilt free way to indulge.   Gelato is a health-conscious treat.  No really, it is.

For starters, because gelato is made with milk instead of cream it carries a high amount of protein and is an excellent extra source of calcium.  Gelato is made from all natural ingredients directly increasing the amount of vitamins and nutrients per serving over any typical dessert. The fact is gelato has less calories and fat than traditional ice cream.

According to www.whygelato.com, gelato is recommended as a desirable food for athletes on a strict regiment when seeking a non-diet breaking means of catering to their cravings.  Credit is awarded to the protein content for this instance.  No need to sneak around or have the weight of the world (no pun intended) on your shoulders, go ahead and eat the luxurious frozen dessert.  Gelato will satiate the void for a sweet treat in the best, most natural product with a heightened level of taste for complete worthiness.  

Resolutions come and go, the weight may come and go, but a moment to experience true flavor and joy, must always stick around.  Gelato is glad to provide an outlet, albeit a healthy one, during the time when people elect to have a scoop of happiness.  

Make 2014 the year of happiness, indulge a bit with us… it doesn't even count!

What is your 2014 resolution? How do you add happiness to your day?  

Gift Certificates with Glee

Dull, thoughtless, uneventful… not exactly the message most would wish for a present to convey.  Let’s face it, gift certificates get a bad rap. While plain gift giving does happen and can be defended in some cases, spread the revamped view for giving and receiving gift cards that spread joy this season.  Gift certificates can be worthy of the most important people on this year’s list. 

In certain instances, a generic gift card is exactly the right choice.  A teacher moving into a new home (large housewares store), to donate for a charity raffle, and for corporate gift exchanges with a required minimum cost, are all suitable for gift certificates.  There is an overtone when handed to family or close friends: the gift is seemingly inadequate, as if the time was not spent to find something better.   But the truth is, giving a gift certificate can actually be one of the best presents of the holiday.  It is the ticket to ensuring a person gets exactly what they want, a vessel for an experience one may not spend money on themselves to try, or a way to share with family and friends personal favorites courtesy of the giver.

Photo credit: NY Times

People living away from family, particularly in a desirable destination, can entice loved ones to book travel plans to visit during 2014. To do so, send  gift certificates for a favorite restaurant, gelato shop, and activities to do in order to rally visitors to come stay and enjoy the family from out-of-town.  The opposite is just as thoughtful, sending a gift card for the newly opened buzz worthy spot such as a cheese shop, seafood store, or cafe in the town the person receiving resides.   An adventure gift ticket, such as paddle boarding, golf lessons, or an extreme race challenge brings people together to try something new or to share a skilled hobby with those novice.

Presentation is key as well, outline the thought process behind the gift. Savvy packages and careful displays will depict the meaning behind the holiday season and the joy of giving. Wow factors can include attaching travel incentive gift cards to a map of the location, placing a gelato gift certificate among a stocking filled with luxurious goodies, and wrapping the big adventure ticket in the largest box in house.

Gift certificates are amazing presents that carry an enormous potential to spread happiness this season and into the new year.  

What is a favorite gift certificate you are giving this year?

Scoop Some Happiness to loved ones, ‘tis the season. $5 for $10 gift certificates at Pino Gelato through December 31, 2013 at HHI store only.  

Make A Difference Day 2013

The little things mean much more than realized. American Essayist and Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) summed up a fantastic way to live, a message still applicable on this very day, “To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”

On National Make A Difference Day Saturday, October 26, 2013 millions of volunteers will unite to improve the lives of others in their communities on the largest national day of community service.  Thousands of projects in all different scales from small groups of individuals to entire states take on problems they see in the community and accomplish a solution.  USA Weekend Magazine and Points of Light have teamed up for more than 20 years to sponsor Make A Difference Day along with other organizations that recognize the power of inspired people serving their communities.  The Make A Difference Day website allows anybody to register  their project to raise awareness and accrue volunteers, there is also a search engine for projects within the total mile radius of the entered zip code to find places to volunteer on Saturday.  Projects include fixing up city gardens, packaging at food banks, and cleaning/repairing community centers.  Regardless of the project size registration on the Make A Difference Day DAYtaBank submits the project for consideration to receive a $10,000 donation from Newman’s Own.  

It is not too late to create a project and many are still in need of volunteers.  Begin a new tradition with family, friends, or coworkers and dedicate time to serve the community, one day of volunteering can spark a habit of it.  Children learn from the actions of adults, family friendly projects will engage the awareness of children and involve them to aid in successfully improving their community while shaping their path toward future volunteering. The children may ask to do more, luckily the upcoming holiday season provides numerous opportunities, but engaging in service all year long and striving to Make A Difference each and every day is the true goal and inspiration of the mission.

The little things count, start by smiling and making eye contact with people. Trends have occurred recently including an anonymous person buying coffee for everyone that comes in that day, or grand restaurant tippers, and the more infamous random act of kindness when a homeless man turned in a lost bag filled with over $50,000 cash only to have inspired the do-well in another gentleman that set up a website to donate funds to the homeless man; he is now worth over $100,000. Go ahead, create a trend and raise awareness to make someone's life a little happier in any capacity it is worth it. The cycle should never end, people will always remember the way another made them feel. Make A Difference Day certainly calls to us nationwide to join our neighbors helping others and our communities, it could be contagious.

What project will you participate in for Make A Difference Day this Saturday, October 26, 2013?  

Come share a Scoop of Happiness with us and other volunteers at Pino Gelato after your project!

Raspberry Swirls

A perfectly plump treat.  Perhaps, more so than any of the other berries, the raspberry is the top berry to adore.  Delectable, decadent, and sweet raspberries have an air of them enabling a transition to inhabit any dessert one graces. Raspberries should be used more often than they are, it is time for top billing of the berry sort.  

Raspberries are the absolute best for the most particular, gorgeous shade of (natural) dye for pink icing. Simply warm them in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stove top and gently press and strain the juice from the berries. Use the same approach for a gorgeous addition of color and flavor to any favorite drink.  

The raspberry has been gracing the marquee of the health industry for the hefty benefits it contains.  Beyond being near top of the list of power packed fruits, having a wide range of minerals and vitamins, and claims of lower risk for obesity this small fruit contains a ton of antioxidants.  Certainly enough information to justify any dessert that includes the healthy raspberry.  

A bit of an homage to the Raspberry Swirl gelato flavor gracing our case, and to all things this wonderful berry turns to complete joy... engage with our Raspberry Swirls Pinterest board open to public pinning for all things raspberry hued.  Celebrate the color, the fruit, and the recipes along with the bevy of happiness the raspberry produces.  

Please, add your raspberry themed pins to our delight! 

Valentine's Day Celebration!

Ah, the love.   A day for recognizing the adoration, admiration, and appreciation one has for others.   Dating back to an Italian, Saint Valentine, love and the proclamation for all it beholds has varied mildly, however gestures that represent those feelings are always evolving in displays currently through flowers, cards, and most importantly, treats.   More accurately, Valentine’s Day has become a true spotlight for various sweet confections to shine in glory and display love (or self-indulgence if it is that type of year) in the most delicious way.  Regardless of the sentiment wished to express this Valentine’s Day, gelato is the premium sweet to celebrate with. 

Beyond the nod to the Italian lineage of love and our beloved icy creation, gelato transpires decadence in a way no bon-bon can.  The romantic Italian language of gelato flavors, Vaniglia, Cioccolato, alone are enough to impress any date or significant other while ordering, but the smooth texture and freshness of gelato will cap the experience.   Gelato can be used to top homemade desserts or to add an instant upgrade to a traditional chocolate covered strawberries display.  The favorite bon-bon from every other year still can be used chopped as a topping for a special twist on a gelato serving.  Gelato has an added sumptuousness especially to those not used to eating it, bonus points for introducing it to someone for the first time!  A Scoop of Happiness in store or to-go (available in pints and quarts for sharing… or not) will make this Valentine’s Day significantly sweeter.          

Gelato cakes are wonderful for advocating love and admiration this Valentine’s Day.   The gelato cakes can take on any role assumed to them be it to share with the whole family, bring to a school or themed party, or customize to the exact flavor preferences of the person one wishes to honor.   Most would be thoroughly impressed with a cake made from gelato, but the creativity outlet in a gelato cake made to suit personal flavor combinations is unbeatable. The thought behind preparing in advance by ordering a customizable gelato cake is notable.   It is the perfect way to plan to say “I love you” and surely a fun way to enjoy dessert with family and friends. 

Ask Pino Gelato about our specialty cakes!

Gelato represents love, in sharing, in Italian culinary history, and in the presentation it offers this Valentine’s Day.  Gelato in any form and flavor will help to spread love and happiness to all lucky enough to enjoy the sweet Italian treat.  The magnificence surrounding gelato and the people held most important to us pair up this holiday to make for an enchanting celebration.  Gelato = amore.