Ciao Bella in Arkansas

What's your favorite flavor combination?

One of my responsibilities at Ciao Bella is training new gelato bar customers on the ins and outs of gelato, sorbet and of course CIAO BELLA. This week I got to travel to Rogers, AR to share my knowledge. Planning my trip was not as easy as it seemed. Apparently, there aren’t too many flight options to the NW Regional Airport. My first stop was Charlotte where the eastcoastBELLAgirls just finished up handing out yummy samples of Ciao Bella’s single serve cups – their next stop is Raleigh. After an hour layover, I was off to Arkansas.

On the plane to AR a college student, who was flying home from a 35 day trip around Europe, struck up a conversation with me. Interested in the book I was reading, “Eat This, Not That” (check out page 222 to see Ciao Bella as an Eat This) we got to talking about the different food experiences and otherwise on his trip. He mentioned how he had never been on a subway prior to his trip (crazy) and how much he enjoyed Italy and its almost daily festivals. Of course, I told him that I worked for Ciao Bella, America’s Favorite Gelato, and how our delicious gelato and sorbet is soon to be available in Rogers, AR.

Excited to have landed in AR, I was greeted with a surprise – thick hot air. It’s been raining and chilly in NJ for several weeks and I almost forgot what summer air feels like. I picked up my rental and was on my way to the hotel to rest up for gelato bar training the following day. Driving in AR was certainly different from what I am used to. There were few street lights and miles of farmland. Several times I thought I was lost and/or missed my turn. Funny, cuz it is quite hard to get lost when your directions consist of only 5 turns. After a couple of u-turns I finally arrived at my hotel and was excited for the next day’s events.

Bright and early, I checked out the continental breakfast searching for the healthiest options I could find – fat free chocolate milk and a cinnamon raisin bagel. (Yes, not all that healthy, but, hey, it is a hotel breakfast.) Now off to the training. Hopefully, I don’t get lost this time. (Fortunately, the directions are easier – only three turns). Getting off exit 82 on I-540 north I make a right and come up to a beautiful brand new Neighborhood Market by Walmart. I have arrived.

Grab a scoop of Ciao Bella in Rogers, AR.

I head over to the sign-in table and introduce myself. The new store is really nice. It is very inviting and has a lot of great features, like a gelato bar full of Ciao Bella gelato and sorbet. I am introduced to the team members that will be responsible for serving Ciao Bella’s frozen treats. My first question, what is gelato? The answer, a resounding – I don’t know. Hmm…we’ve got some work to do.

Gelato is Italian-style ice cream. It has less air and butterfat making it creamier and all the more yummy. Ciao Bella only uses the finest ingredients and stays true to the natural flavor profiles. The result is a frozen treat that excites the taste buds and delights with every bowl full.

The best part about any training is getting to sample Ciao Bella’s gelato and sorbet and witnessing the faces of those tasting it for the first time. It is such a great feeling when you are able to bring a smile to someone’s face with just a spoonful of deliciousness. By the time I completed my presentation everyone was officially hooked and super excited to share our flavors with others. And now back home.

The day’s favorite flavor was by far Ciao Bella’s Tahitian Vanilla gelato. What’s your favorite?

Head over to Neighborhood Market by Wal-Mart in Rogers, AR opening June 24th to grab a scoop of Ciao Bella!