sweetpeople: robb duncan (owner of dolcezza)
July 29, 2010
We sat down with Dolcezza’s owner, Robb Duncan, who, along with his wife Violeta Edelman, opened this awesome Argentine gelato shop in 2004. They now have 3 locations in Georgetown, Dupont Circle, and Bethesda. Here’s what Robb had to say about Dolcezza and the sweetlife…
How did you end up in DC, and how did Dolcezza come to be?
I was living in Portland, Oregon before I traveled to South America where I met Violeta. After traveling together throughout Brazil, we went to visit her family in Argentina. I made the decision to move to Buenos Aires, where we got married. The crash of the economy in 2001 made it difficult to make a living in Argentina so we came back to the States. We decided the area could really benefit from Argentinean gelato, a change from the creamier, thicker ice cream of the United States. We opened our first store in Georgetown in 2004. We had a good idea, but no business plan. But, if you love something, that’s a guarantee that you will put 100% into it.
What inspires you when you’re creating a flavor, and where do these flavors come from?
Our main inspiration comes from whatever is available at the local farmers’ markets. I also look at combinations that would work well in a cocktail, like cucumber and gin.We take something that is already good and add some dimension to it.
How do you make the “perfect gelato”?
We’ve spent the last six years trying to perfect our gelato. One part of it is the ingredients- finding the farmers that grow the best stuff- and then really learning the technical side of making gelato. A big part of it is finding the right machines to make the gelato, it’s really like the difference of driving a Porsche and a Volkswagen. It’s about finding that sweet spot, where the gelato is the perfect balance of cream, ice, sugar, and flavor.
Why is it so important to source produce locally versus finding ingredients elsewhere?
The very first reason is that it’s delicious! We buy and sell in six farmers’ markets in DC. The number one priority is flavor. At these farmers’ markets you find the superb quality of something that is picked when it’s ripe and is delivered the same or next day. Second is definitely the community. These farmers are amazing people. They are old generations of farmers, their fathers and grandfathers have grown up on thier farms, their children will grow up on their farms. This lends so much depth to what we do, and getting to know these people is one of the most rewarding parts of it all.
What does the ‘sweetlife’ mean to you?
