08/26/2026
In 2019, Stefano had the honour of representing Canada at the prestigious Gelato Festival America in West Hollywood, competing against some of the top gelato artisans across North America.
The flavour he brought to the competition was Seamist, a locally inspired sorbetto with a story that began years earlier in Maui. When Stefano and Melissa opened Ono Gelato in Maui, Melissa came up with the original flavour profile and the idea of importing Seamist Tea from Silk Road in Victoria all the way to Maui. The combination of tea, fresh mint, lemongrass, and lime quickly became an instant favourite.
For the competition, Stefano refined the recipe to achieve the perfect consistency while keeping the original flavour profile that made Seamist so special. It was that unique combination of flavours that caught the attention of the judges, many who had never tasted anything quite like it.
Stefano was awarded Best Gelato in North America and earned a place at the Gelato Festival World Masters in Italy. But, the inside scoop is that it was Melissa who came up with the novel flavour profile.
For Stefano and Melissa, gelato is more than a dessert. It is a family tradition passed down through generations, beginning with Stefano’s father and grandfather crafting gelato in their pasticceria in Torino, Italy. Today, they continue that legacy here in Victoria, creating authentic Italian gelato while bringing local ingredients and ideas into every scoop.
Today, Seamist remains one of our most popular flavours, being a little piece of Victoria, Maui, and their story in every scoop.
