This year, around 12,000 enroled to study at the Gelato University, hoping to become schooled in the art of making real Italian ice cream.The university is near Bologna at the headquarters of Carpigiani, the leading global manufacturer of ice cream making machines.
As well as practical courses, students attend technical lectures to learn traditional methods of making gelato. Marketing and management are also on the curriculum.
The courses cost around £700-a-week and students - who come from as far afield as Australia and Sierra Leone - stay in a local hotel.
"The people who come here are people who want a career change," said university director Kaori Ito.
"The average age is 35-40. They are ready to drop what they're doing and open a new chapter in their lives."
Holy Randrianasolo, 44, who works as a textile industry executive, dreams of setting up the first gelato parlour in her native Madagascar.
She said: "My plan is to open an Italian ice cream parlour in Antananarivo. It's for a certain class of people, you could say a certain social class, as it's not for everyone."
For others, like Yasmeena Abdel Ghani - who lives in Dubai - the classes are more about pleasure than business.She is attending the course with her husband on holiday, to learn how to make real Italian ice cream so she can impress her dinner party guests when she gets home.
Those who want to open their own ice cream parlours may have to invest heavily in their dreams, but the rewards can be huge.
As well as the satisfaction of making their own delicious sweet creations, a litre of ice cream costs little to make and can be sold for a tasty profit.
No comments:
Post a Comment