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Sara’s Artisan Gelato now open in Ashwaubenon

By Heather Graves
Correspondent

ASHWAUBENON – What started as a childhood dream has turned into a passionate profession for a young Green Bay woman.

Sara Santaga, 23, opened Sara’s Artisan Gelato on Anderson Drive in Ashwaubenon about a month ago, and so far, it’s even more than she hoped it would be.

“Business has been awesome,” Santaga said. “I’ve been getting increasingly busier. I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the positive response I have gotten.”

A graduate of Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay, Santaga was first introduced to authentic gelato back in 2011 when she visited Italy with her grandparents. Her grandfather, Aldo, is an Italian immigrant.

“I couldn’t get enough of it,” Santaga said “I had gelato every single day of my two-week trip, sometimes twice a day.”

That trip fueled her interest in food, cooking and the creamy Italian dessert.

After high school, Santaga started her culinary education at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.

She finished up her degree at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, while working as a line cook at the Whistling Swan in Fish Creek.

From there, Santaga traveled to Bologna, Italy, to attend an intensive three-week course at Carpigiani Gelato University.

“My instructors there were so passionate about the proper way to make authentic gelato,” Santaga said. “I fell in love with the creativity and the science behind the perfect texture.”

After wholesaling for about a year, Santaga knew it was time for her to open her own store.

She took the first step in spring of 2018, when she began selling her gelato at 46 Below bistro inside Arien’s Hill in the Titletown district.

“It was always a goal of mine to be involved with that area of town,” Santaga said.

It was that same mindset that led her to open her store across the street from the Ashwaubenon Community Center.

“I knew I wanted to be in Ashwaubenon,” Santaga said. “It felt like it was the best, centralized location for me. I got a good vibe from it.”

Santaga said the positive feedback she’s received from customers has only fueled her desire to succeed.

“(Sara’s Artisan Gelato) is just what Green Bay needed,” said customer Jenny Peterson, of Green Bay. “The gelato is excellent and the prices are very reasonable. It’s a cute little shop to go to with friends or a quick snack.”

Santaga said it’s her goal to make the store as authentically Italian as possible. Making gelato is a way for her to bring her culture and style of dessert to her hometown.

“I wanted to give Green Bay a gelato experience that brings them back to being in Italy or introduce them to the kind of gelato that Italy has, which is the gelato that you just can’t forget about,” Santaga said.

Gelato is traditionally served at a warmer temperature than ice cream giving it a smooth, creamy texture.

Santaga tested and created more than 30 recipes of gelato and sorbet, including dairy free, vegan and gluten-free options.

Everything is made from scratch on a daily basis, including waffle cones and six different kinds of cookies.

“My gelato recipes are all handcrafted using traditional, Italian techniques, Wisconsin milk and high quality ingredients,” Santaga said.

Flavors are always changing and seasonal flavors are introduced throughout the year. Santaga also offers what she’s calling the Green Bay Pick 6 Flight.

“Like a beer flight, but with gelato complete with the wooden board and small cups of any six flavors that you’d like to try,” Santaga said.

Sara’s Artisan Gelato also offers take-home pints and quarts, catering for special events and a 10 percent discount for teachers and police officers

Santaga’s gelato can also be found on the menus of many local restaurants, including Hinterland, Rustique, Kavarna and Angelina’s.

For more information on Sara’s Artisan Gelato, visit them on Facebook and Instagram.

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