Dolci Gelati

In 1975, Gianluigi Dellaccio was born in Naples, Italy. Gianluigi was a notable water polo player who represented both Naples and Italy, winning the Italian championship in 1993 with the winning goal. Gianluigi decided to pursue his other interest, pastry and the art of producing gelato, in 1996, and made a big career move. Gianluigi packed his belongings and relocated to Milan to pursue a degree in pastry culinary arts and gelato at the "CAPAC" (polytechnic of commerce), a prestigious gelato and pastry school. Gianluigi traveled to Bonn, Germany, after finishing his studies to work for Lazzarin, a well-known gelato brand owned by his cousin. He was able to fully develop his secret recipe and skills while he was there. Gianluigi returned to Napoli after his stint in Germany, where he worked at Scaturchio, a famous pastry business where the world-famous sfogliatella was produced. All of this drove Gianluigi to decide to pursue his passion and destiny in the United States. Gianluigi packed his belongings and moved to the United States in 2000, bringing his pastry and gelato expertise with him. Gianluigi has spent a significant amount of time in Washington, DC. Gianluigi has worked at the Ritz Carlton and spent six years as the chief pastry chef at Laboratorio Del Galileo, Washington's premier Italian fine dining restaurant. Gianluigi has prepared pastries for Bono, President Clinton, Jordan's Queen Rania, and even Pope Francis. Gianluigi has worked on desserts for a variety of venues, including restaurants, major catered events, cooking classes, and numerous fundraisers. Gianluigi left Galileo in 2006 to start his own gelato company, Dolci Gelati. Gianluigi supplies gelato to a variety of restaurants, specialized stores, catering firms, and food carts at locations such as Nationals Park and the National Zoo. During Sigep, an international exhibition dedicated to artisan gelato, confectionery, pastry and bakery manufacture, and coffee held in Rimini, Italy, Chef Gianluigi was given the official title of Global Gelato Ambassador by the Associazione Italiana Gelatieri. Sigep is the world's largest international artisan gelato fair. Ambassadors are master gelato makers who aren't afraid to try new things and push the envelope. Valentina and Gianluca, as well as a Goldendoodle named Belle, are Chef Gianluigi's children. He is married to Anastasia, who assisted in the company's co-founding and now works as a strategic advisor for the company in her spare time.