In December 2017, Maryne Poppe, a 27-year-old artisan from Flawinne, was awarded for her expertise and her passion for ice cream: she won the “Gelato Day” prize at the International Exhibition of Artisan Gelato in Italy.
The 24th of March is set as the day artisanal gelato is celebrated. In 2017, for this occasion, Maryne Poppe organized an open-day at her shop “Tendance Glacée” located in Flawinne (Namur). Ice cream enthusiasts were able to visit her ice cream workshop but they also had the chance to taste some baisers de Flawinne, apple crumble or Italian meringue… flavored ice-cream.
A few months later, the Royal Association of French-language Artisan Ice Cream Makers (of Belgium) talked to her about an international exhibition of artisan gelato taking place in Longarone, near Venice. This 3-day exhibition allows visitors to discover and taste frozen and natural products that require a real expertise. There is also a panel which awards prizes, including the “Gelato Day”, to the artisans who contributed to popularize this day of the 24th March among the general public. Our fellow countrywoman, and the only Belgian taking part in this exhibition, decided to submit to the panel some pictures and videos taken during the open-day. Her passion earned her this prestigious prize and made her a well-known artisan across Europe but most importantly in Italy, where ice cream appears amid its biggest culinary specialties.
