Design new flavour for Sheffield's gelato genius to sell at food festival

The law graduate, of Greystones, fell into the cool industry after an ‘impulse buy’ of a vintage black and orange ice cream van on eBay three years ago - and soon after Livvy’s Ice Cream was born.

She has taken her reinvented ice cream on a tour of city food markets and events since, but is now hoping to reach a new audience at the upcoming Sheffield Food Festival in the city centre in May.

And food-lovers could also see their very own gelato on sale at the festival, as Joanne is organising a competition for people to design their own imaginative frozen dessert flavour.

“I have run three of these competitions before with primary schools and they came up with some brilliant flavours”, said Joanne, who also works at the Famous Sheffield Shop on Ecclesall Road and runs the business from Attercliffe.

“Two nine year olds came up with orange and balsamic, and fig with cinammon, which we will have for sale at the festival.

“Cheese and Marmite is the most unusual one we’ve ever made, for a wedding - it’s really nice. I’ve tried it on a few people and its always a mixed reaction but more people like it than don’t.”

The bespoke flavours at Livvy’s, named after Joanne’s youngest greyhound dog, was inspired by her time spent in America and later Belgium as a law student.

She then studied her craft at the Gelato University - it really does exist - near Bologna, Italy, and today makes everything from natural ingredients.

Collaborations with other Sheffield firms have led to a Henderson’s Relish and vanilla gelato, as well as others using Birdhouse Tea blends .

Elderflowers foraged from Whitely Woods are also used to make slushies.

Joanne says Sheffielders have taken her Yorkshire twist on a taste of Italy well.

“Occasionally I get people asking for a 99 and they get a good talking to!”, she laughed.

Livvy’s will be on Pinstone Street during the Sheffield Food Festival on May 26-28.

The winner of the design a gelato competition will receive a tub of their flavour, and it will be on sale during the festival. To make your suggestions, and for more details, visit www. livvysicecream.co.uk.