The inspiration for ‘Zen Gelato began one evening over dinner with a close mate. As we caught up, the conversation turned to our plans for the upcoming year. I mentioned that after a recent trip to New Zealand, I had fallen in love with the idea of starting an ice cream business in Melbourne, inspired by the real fruit soft serve machines I encountered there. To my surprise, my mate had the same idea and with that, the seed for ‘Zen Gelato was planted.

That idea had been quietly forming even earlier while I was travelling through Europe. I have always been a huge ice cream lover, and many of my travels were guided by tracking down traditional gelaterie and creameries along the way. Experiencing authentic gelato made with care, quality ingredients, and time gave me a deeper appreciation for the craft and strongly influenced the direction of ‘Zen Gelato.

Today, ‘Zen Gelato thrives in the heart of the picturesque Huon Valley, I only came to understand its true beauty after spending time living elsewhere. Coming home opened my eyes. With deep respect and gratitude, I now honour my privileged birthplace by showcasing the exquisite plant life that flourishes throughout this slice of paradise.