Gianluigi Dellaccio of Dolci Gelati shows off his winning Saffron Pistachio gelato.

For those of us who spent Memorial Day weekend dodging rain showers in D.C., we now know that Chicago was truly the place to be, and preferably as a judge at the Gelato World Tour. While both the judges and attendees all got a shot at tasting the 9,000 pounds of gelato served at the 2016 Gelato World Tour, with flavors ranging from passionfruit ricotta to pecan pie, those of us in the DMV can still get a smackerel of the Saffron Pistachio with Candied Lemon Peel gelato that won the “Technical Jury Award,” which was created by D.C.’s own Gianluigi Dellaccio of Dolci Gelati Café.

“In celebration of the honors we received at the Gelato World Tour, we will be serving the winning flavor at our stores throughout the D.C. area at our shops in D.C., MD, and Northern Virginia,” says Dellaccio. “I’m looking forward to seeing the expressions on our fans’ faces when they taste it.”

Dellaccio’s creation not only garnered him accolades at the competition, which included 16 finalists from both North and South America, but will also send him to the Grand Finale of the Gelato World Tour in Rimini, Italy in 2017, where he will be representing the Americas region; three other winners from the Chicago competition will compete as well, hailing from Colombia, Chicago, and Canada.

Dolci Gelati got its start in D.C. in 2006 and now includes three locations in Shaw, Alexandria, and Takoma Park, along with a food truck. Dellaccio’s flavors focus on local ingredients, both fruit and dairy, with flavors ranging from Cherry Blossom to Thai Coconut Lemongrass. Not to be confused with ice cream, gelato has less fat (yay for fewer calories) and less air incorporated into it, making it particularly creamy, and it’s also served at a warmer temperature than traditional ice cream, which can intensify the flavors.

The Gelato World Tour is supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and of Economic Development, as well as the Regione Emilia Romagna, where gelato is serious business, not just a tasty snack. So far, the Gelato World Tour has visited nine cities — Rome, Valencia, Melbourne, Dubai, Austin, Berlin, Rimini, Singapore, and Tokyo — and the winners from all those cities will compete against each other in the 2017 finale.