The owner and master gelatician of Gelato & Co., Stefano Franceschi visited LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch Jan. 15 to attend the grand opening of his first gelato coffee bar in the United States: Gelato & Co. Cremeria Italiana. “We import the best ingredients from Italy,” said Franceschi, listing pistachios from Sicily, hazelnut from Piedmont and coffee roasted in Italy as examples. “We use the best of local ingredients,” he added. “We support the local community.”

We prepare every day the gelato from scratch,” said Franceschi, who about five years ago began Gelato & Co. in the Cayman Islands as the hub for a global chain that has locations in Puerto Rico, Aruba and Panama. Visit https://gelatoeco.com for details. A news release says the company plans to open more locations in the United States.