Italian Food...what a pleasure! Probably the favorite among many others from around the world in this great Country! It is passion as the driving force for Guido Tremolini and Simona Faroni, a young, stubborn, and determined couple that came all the way from Italy to the Beautiful Florida Emerald Coast, at the beginning of 1996.

Guido and Simona had a dream and a goal. Bring Authentic Italian Gelato to America. Why you would say? Don’t we have ice cream already? Yes, but Guido and Simona would answer, “Didn’t we have coffee here before? And now we have espresso, cappuccino, latte and so on! Same principles. Things, people, taste, and markets evolve...the whole world is always in evolution…”

Guido and Simona decided to manufacture and distribute Italian Ice cream (Gelato) in America. During a visit to the Florida Emerald Coast in 95 they fell in love with the area, and they chose Fort Walton Beach/Destin as the base of their American venture.

They moved to the US in February 1996, and they soon realized that their dream was different from reality. A shocking awakening, like a cold shower, was brought by the language. An unexpected struggle...their English was worse than what they thought, and they realized that language, culture, laws, regulations, and everything else was far different than they had imagined, and envisioned; far different from their native country.

What did they do? Were they so crazy to have omitted this “little” detail? Probably they were! Their determination and strong belief for Gelato, originally made every detail disappear.

As if the language barrier was not enough to discourage our two young pioneers, the worst was yet to come...in order to produce authentic Italian ice cream, they needed Italian equipment! They imported the necessary machinery from Italy, and they installed it in their newly built location in Fort Walton Beach. During the final inspection, the Department of Agriculture declined the approval of the equipment. The Reason? Never seen such machines in America, and did not meet code. What code? There was no code for such category as gelato. How to solve it? Get rid of the equipment! For Guido and Simon that was not an option; Gelato is 2000 years old; there must be a way to approve this equipment! But all the doors were closed. It seemed the end…They were discouraged by everyone, they did not know what to do, where to go, whom to speak to...and mainly, how to speak!!! Did they give up? NO WAY. Their family taught them from their childhood three main things:

1. When there is a will there is a way…
2. When the water comes to the throat, you better start swimming…
3. Never give up your Dreams.

So they did. They speed-learned English, and they found some fantastic people that were willing to share their knowledge and help. Those were very difficult times. Their dream was attached to a very, very fine thread.

After 14 months their precious equipment were approved, not only by the Department of Agriculture, but from Food and Drug Administration as well. It was an ordeal. They understood at that point why so many people with the same goal on Gelato went back to Italy...they could not imagine…

Today if they were asked: If you could go back in time, would you do it again? Their answer? “Without thinking twice! It was worth it! We believe that all the valuable things in life are not achieved without big efforts...”

Today, Guido and Simona own and operate four “San Gelato Café” retail locations, offering an unsurpassable variety of Gelato and Sorbet flavors, exquisite Italian sandwiches (Panini), Coffees, and Desserts. They speak English! They are launching their San Gelato Café franchise offer, after the enormous success of their retail stores. They distribute Authentic Gelato and Sorbet in fifteen states throughout the country, and growing exponentially every year.