Gelato Granucci Will Take Your Tastebuds Away

By: Gianluca Allen

Simonetta (Sam) was a portfolio manager. Tom was a mechanical and software engineer. Now, they own and operate the gelato shop Gelato Granucci in downtown Palm Springs. How did that happen? Well, it all started in the 1920s with Sam’s family, the Granuccis.

History of the Granucci Family

In 1929, Sam’s grandfather, Luigi Granucci, moved his family from Italy to the Netherlands in search of new opportunities. They began to make gelato and sell it from bicycle carts. Over time, the business grew, being handed down from generation to generation, going from bicycle carts to gelaterias to a gelato production facility. Today, Sam’s uncle Edi and his daughter Didi run their facility in Apeldoorn, which supplies gelato to over 50 gelato shops. When Sam and Tom moved to Palm Springs, Sam decided it was time she brought the Granucci tradition to the States.

There’s more than one way to enjoy Gelato at Gelato Granucci.

Every day, there is a variety of gelato pops. Gelato is dipped in chocolate, available plain, or topped with amaretto cookies or a cookie and caramel crumble. Their unique gelato cannolis are a new twist on a classic Italian treat. Any available flavor of gelato or sorbet can be made into a macaron sandwich. For customers who wish to take gelato to go, whether to enjoy themselves or to entertain at a party, any available flavor can be packed into a pint or quart. Gelato cakes are available for a custom order for a special dessert, requiring 48 hours notice. Any two flavors of gelato or sorbet with a layer of sponge cake, masterfully decorated by Head Gelataio Tom Allen.

Authentic Gelateria Experience

Gelato Granucci aims to bring the Granucci tradition to the States and provide an authentic Italian gelateria experience. The first thing people notice when they enter the store is that all the gelato is covered, not displayed in pans. That is because Gelato Granucci uses a display system from Italy called pozetti (little wells). While it is not as visually impressive as the more familiar pan storage, the pozetti keeps the gelato at a uniform temperature and prevents the adverse effects of temperature change. The result is that the gelato stays fresher and maintains its creaminess. Gelato Granucci also serves a full range of coffee products, from espresso to Americanos to affogatos, with a scoop of gelato and a shot of espresso poured over the top. Yum!

More than anything, Gelato Granucci strives to be a welcoming place. A place where customers can come to relax, enjoy a sweet treat, and experience a legacy going on over ninety years. Sam and Tom are looking to the future and make their mark on the Granucci legacy. And in the perpetually sunny paradise of Palm Springs, there’s no better place for a couple of gelataios to do that.

Benvenuti a Gelato Granucci!

Over The Rainbow Desserts