A West Chester gelato shop has been recognized by as one of the best in the region. The origin story of D’Ascenzo’s Gelato Shop begins in the sky. The two owners, Glen and Kristin D’Ascenzo met while working as flight attendants, writes Hira Qureshi for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

A trip to Rome then inspired the inception of the business twenty years ago.  

The chilled Italian dessert is kept at a higher temperature which allows for flavors to be more prominent, shares Glenn D’Ascenzo. Across the Philly region, chefs use traditional methods and local ingredients.  

The gelato, which is more milk-heavy than ice cream, is used in Baily’s Dairy in West Chester. The pasteurized milk then is used to churn in an Italian machine. Patrons can choose from 24 flavors including Stracciatella or Honey Butter. Each flavor is between five to six dollars and extra scoops are free of charge.  

The gelato is freshly made in-house daily, which means flavors rotate on a day-to-day basis. D’Ascenzo’s has been a brick-and-mortar business in West Chester since 2011. The husband and wife began their business serving scoops at farmer’s markets.  

Read more about the best gelato shops in the region in The Philadelphia Inquirer.  

How traditional Italian gelato is made.

Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on VISTA Today in June 2023.