busy Grom in Florence
Guido Martinetti and Federico Grom set out in 2002 to produce the best gelato they could. They selected only fresh seasonal fruit, Lurisia mountain water for the sorbets, high quality whole milk and the best cocoa and coffee.
The first shop opened in Turin in May 2003 and long lines of people appeared each day to buy the gelato. They expanded in 2005 and invested in a centralised laboratory to allow strict control of production. In 2007 Grom opened the first shop outside Italy in New York, and the lines of expectant customers formed again. In the same year 8 hectares of land were purchased in Costigliole d’Asti to start their own farm, Mura Mura. Peaches, apricots, pear, figs, strawberries and melons were planted to provide the best fruit possible.
Plastic spoons and bags were replaced in 2009 with Materbi – a material derived from corn starch and vegetable oils that is completely biodegradable. All paper is Fsc certified paper, which encourages responsible forest management.
If all this doesn’t make you want to buy a Grom gelato, I will now list some of the flavours. I have personally tried all of these (in the name of research) and can vouch for the deliciousness of each.
Nocciola – hazelnut – from Piedmont, where the best nuts grow
Pistacchio – from Bronte, near Mt Etna or Syria
Caffe – coffee from Guatemala
Marron Glace – candied chestnuts – this is my favourite
Cioccolato Extranoir – dark chocolate from Sierra Nevada
I could go on, but I think it is cruel when I am so far from a Grom. I have visited Grom in Turin, Milan, Florence, Mantova and Bologna, but there are many more to discover.
Find Grom – you won’t be disappointed.
Jim waiting patiently for the Mantova Grom to open
I can’t remember if we tried a Grom gelati – we must have because we found this truly amazing gelati shop in Florence packed with people. I had a pear gelati which was out of this world. I wanted to try the other flavours – fig and prune and …….but we had little room or time left. Those gelatis shops are a MUST to visit in Italy. You’ve brought back some wonderful memories, thanks Deb!
Remind me to take you to Bellos Gelateria in my local area (Glynde, Adelaide). Mr Bello’s gelatis are popular, especially in summer time. I liked especially his watermelon, rockmelon and pineapple gelatis, all made from fresh seasonal fruits. Yum! Mr Bello has expanded his business and opened a shop in Prospect, Adelaide.
By: Sandra Hoopmann on July 12, 2010
at 9:08 am
THUS is what we need in Brisbane – maybe maleny diary would come to the arty?
By: OPTIKO on July 12, 2010
at 11:43 am
Can hardly wait to try Grom in September. We have had wonderful gelato in Cortona
Thanks for the info Debra
Pam
By: Pamela Proctor on July 12, 2010
at 1:32 pm
I will put this on my list of best gelateria in Italy along with one in Venice and one in San Gimignano. If Jim was waiting on steps for it to open surely that was not early morning! However he is slim enough to eat one anytime.
By: Roz on July 12, 2010
at 8:54 pm
Midday was the opening time in Mantova. Jim is rather partial to gelato.
By: bagnidilucca on July 12, 2010
at 10:21 pm
I wish I could find myself a Grom! It sounds divine! 😀
By: Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella on July 13, 2010
at 2:19 am
mmm, yummy!! look delicious!
I love maron glace too, in anything!
Thanks Debra for sharing!!!
Mirella
By: mirellamccracken on July 13, 2010
at 6:11 pm
Hi Mirella, I’m glad you are back!
By: bagnidilucca on July 13, 2010
at 9:26 pm
Wonderful blog and great photos too! Will check out the Grom gelato when I return to Italy. Thanks for the tip!
By: Joel Vega on July 16, 2010
at 12:48 pm
And the granita alla mandorla is something incredible at Grom’s. I did not know that a granita could be that good 🙂
By: Oudekki on August 14, 2010
at 2:07 pm
I love Grom! I am working my way through the flavours. San Crispino also does a fine gelato, but it is hard to beat Paolo’s at Il Monaco in Bagni di Lucca. He makes it himself every day and it is very good.
By: bagnidilucca on August 14, 2010
at 9:17 pm
As you know, My sister and I went there in September while students in San Giovanni Valdarno. We told people we were going to Firenze for David, or for the gardens, but really it was for GROM. Three trips in two weeks, 6 flavours! Vale la pena! We have Cibo coffe shops here in Adelaide and they have an orange, carrot and lemon sorbetto which is certainly the best in Adelaide, but GROM is still the best…
By: mltucker on November 28, 2010
at 8:34 am
[…] think this is where it all started for Grom. Soon it will take over the world. an elaborate window Romulus and Remus got around here as well […]
By: Torino « Debra & Liz's Bagni di Lucca Blog on January 5, 2011
at 5:34 am
I wish I could understand what you are saying.
By: bagnidilucca on March 19, 2011
at 7:03 pm
It’s Spam
By: Dakota on June 30, 2011
at 2:06 pm
Thanks Dakota, I got rid of it.
By: bagnidilucca on June 30, 2011
at 8:51 pm
[…] have written about Grom and San Crispino, but most towns and villages would have a gelateria where fresh gelato is made. […]
By: Gelato anyone? « Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on June 14, 2011
at 7:43 am
[…] I have to divide my gelato eating between Grom, San Crispino and my all time favourite, Paolo’s gelato in Fornaci di Barga. Life is […]
By: Another good reason to eat gelato « Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on June 29, 2012
at 2:49 pm
[…] to fit in a gelato at Grom or Venchi. Click here for Grom and here for […]
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at 11:24 pm
[…] read about Grom gelato click here, and here for […]
By: The things people say « Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on November 27, 2012
at 12:57 am
[…] were lining up to buy gelato at the brand new Grom store, you can’t blame them for […]
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at 5:40 pm