Cincinnati Flower Show

I am proud to announce that Madisono's is teaming up with Chef's Choice Catering to offer 8oz individual serving cups at the 2010 Cincinnati Flower and Garden Show. My new flavor, Honey Lavender, will make it's debut at the show. Made with honey and real lavender, this flavor is incredible. The texture is like nothing I have ever made before and I can not wait to share it with all of you. Chef's choice will also offer Lemon sorbet and Chocolate Gelato in 8oz cups. These 8oz single serve cups are now available at the following locations:
College Hill Coffee Shop,
SilverGlades on 8th,
Madison's At Findlay Market,
Angelo's Pizza in Montgomery,
Abby Girl Sweets on 5ht St.
Lookout Joe Mt. Lookout
The cups are available in the following flavors. Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, Dark Chocolate Orange, Honey Lavender, Chocolate Chip, Lemon Sorbet and Red Raspberry Sorbet. Honey Lavender is just now coming out so give that a week or so before it is available in those locations, but don't forget to ask them for it.

Madisono's is now available at Madison's Market 110 W. Elder St. dipped by hand Tuesday through Sunday. Last week was the soft opening and it was anything but soft! Thanks to all of you who bouht a cup. Madisono's offers a huge portion for just $3.00. Compared to other offerings of gelato around town this is a great deal. Just because Madisono's bases are made from scratch with local milk, all natural ingredients, just because we use the finest ingredients available and just because it is made is small batches does not mean that it has to be expensive. We will offer fresh cut strawberries as a topping this week and will debut our Sorbet Fizz menu very soon. Thanks for your support
Also try my new Caramello with sea salt. Only available at Madison's or Via Vite.



Matt

Soapbox Cincinnati

Last week I had the great pleasure of talking with Elena Stevenson from Cincinnati Soapbox. She had called to set up a time to do a phone interview about Madisono's Gelato and we were able to connect last Thursday. Elena had some great questions. I say this all the humility in the world but I love being interviewed. Let me explain. I spend all day, all night thinking about my business. I even dream about it. Sometimes they are good dreams but most of the time they are anxiety based for one reason or another. Owning and running a small business is hard, regardless of what the business does. While thinking about my business, be it about finances, new flavor names, pricing, sales, inspections, sales leads and everything else, there rarely comes a time when things are in real perspective. When being interviewed, the questions cause me to think about my business in a different way. I recalled my days at the Findlay market farm shed, working on the farm 9 years ago, selling shiitake mushrooms, and all the great milestones since I founded Madisono's. I would never, in a normal day have time or the reason to take all of that into account within a 10 minute stretch. For me, the interview is like looking back on a scrap book with fond memories. It also helps me to see just how far I have come and how much work has gone into where I am now. Sometimes I get caught up in the details of the now and forget to look at the real picture. Interviews help me put it all back into a framework that despite the immediate challenges of the day, I am doing what I love to do. Create. I am excited about dipping fresh gelato at Findlay Market. I am excited about the warm weather and I have much more to share with all of you. For now here is the link to the interview.
Thanks
Matt

Hand Dipped at Findlay Market

Well folks it is official!
Madisono's will be available at Madison's @ Findlay Market dipped by hand starting in April. On Monday I deliverd the dipping case and my Dad has made some changes in the store to accomodate it. The dipping will take place in the front of the store. I am using a traditional dipping case which I feel will deliver a better texture and better quality. I will offer toppings and am very exicted about using all of my parents fresh fruits as toppings as well. In the summer time they get some amazing quality blueberries from Michigan and in the late summer the best tasting red raspberries from the same farm. Can you imagine fresh red raspberries served over Madisono's vanilla? Wow! I think the options are endless. I will be offering a great portion at a great price. If you in the store you will not be able to miss it. It is my expectation to offer several flavors of gelato and sorbet and rotate different flavors each week. I can not wait for warmer weather. Please let your friends know that Madisono's is coming soon to Findlay Market Fresh!
Thanks
Matt

Madisono's and Sustain Brand

I have bloged about Sustain Brand before and I have some great material to share. Sustain Brand is an part of Kennedy Creative, a local company in Cincinnati. Matt Kennedy, the founder, has developed Sustain Brand in an effort to help small producers get larger market oppertunities and bring the local awareness to their products. Here is a link to a video. There is another video on Matt delivering salsa to a local IGA. You may know Cactus Pear Salsa? It is at the bottom of the video. Matt also had some great news in Soapbox. Here is the link to that. Right now Sustain Brand Gelato and Sorbet is available at Jungle Jim's and Rivertown IGA. There are two new flavors coming out for that label and they are Black Raspberry Sorbet and Sumatran Java Gelato. The unique part of the Sustain relationship is that producers do not lose any equity in their brand. My story is told on the backside of the label. I am looking forward to working with Matt in on many more markets.
I hope all of you have enjoyed the snow. I have. It is not the best time to sell gelato and sorbet but that is fine. Spring is just around the corner.
Thanks for all of your continued support!
Matt

Findlay Market Tasting

I want to thank everyone that stopped by today at Findlay Market. By the looks on your faces, the new flavors were a big hit. Thanks for all of your support. When I started it as fast approaching the mid 50's and sunny but by 1:15 the grey clouds, wind and falling temps were keeping the gelato cold and me as well. I had great time and enjoyed talking with folks I had not seen in a while. I am very excited about Findlay Market and have many things planned for the new year. My parents store, 110 W. Elder St. will have many more flavors to offer than most so consider Madisons at Findlay for your total flavor fix. I hope to have the website worked on in the next month or so. I still have a couple of new flavors that will be out in March and those are going to be good. More to come on that later. Thanks for your support.
Matt

New Flavors At Last

Today is a great day at the Madisono's production kitchen. I started production on some of the new flavors today. What are they you ask?
Gelato
Burnt Sugar with Star Anise
Sumatran Java
Julia's Favorite Mango is now made with 100% pure Alphonso Mango
Sorbet
Black Raspberry
Alphonso Mango
I have waited 3.5 years to produce Black Raspberry sorbet and now it is happening. Why the wait? I had always tried to work with fresh or frozen berries. The problem is the seeds. There are just to many and that upsets the texture of the finished sorbet. I have finally found a domestic source of Black Raspberry puree that is incredible. When you taste this sorbet it is like eating a bowl of fresh berries. There are so many options for this flavor it makes my head spin.
The Alphonso Mango is just an incredible mango. I always thought that my mango sorbet was good but this new flavor is over the top. The color, aroma and texture of this eats like a perfectly ripe mango. It still holds the name Julia's Favorite Mango.
Burnt sugar is one that I have been looking at for a while and now I am pleased to share it with you. I burn my own sugar in house and have a special process by which it is made into the gelato. I have always liked working with the savory and Star Anise is a great compliment to this dynamic flavor. If you like creme brulee then you will love this new flavor.
How long will it be before you can get these new flavors? Well we are delivering all of them to Findlay Market this Week and many other customers. It may take a little time before everyone has them. There are still some pints of the the previous mango sorbet on the shelves and that will need to be sold before they order the new. All of our independant customers will be adding them over the next few weeks. They will not be available at Bigg's or Whole Foods just yet. We are starting with the independants first. Let us know what you think.
Matt

Cupcakes and Gelato in Downtown

I just returned from a trip downtown. Delivered a few flavors to Via Vite and delivered a new freezer to AbbyGirl Sweets. They are moving from Oakley to Downtown next to the Hilton on 5ht street. There is at least 20 feet of windo display wich is decorated with real cupcakes. They are set to open on Thursday, just in time for the big snow. The exciting news is that Madisono's and AbbyGirl are working together to offer something unique in Cincinnati. The first cupcake shop that serves gelato. We have all had cake and ice cream but cupcakes and gelato is it! They will offer French Vanilla and Chocolate to start and we will add more flavors very soon. The portions will be prescooped on site and put into authentic gelato cups imported from Italy.
The location is just one block away from the Square and is perfect for a quick visit. There are few tables and chairs as well. They will be offering coffee also. We will dilver the first order next week and should be ready to go by 15th.
AbbyGirl is owned by Nathana and Andrea, a husband and wife team and named after thier daughter Abby. Check out their website for more information. I need to say that they make an icing that is like no other. Seriously. You have never had one like this before. Stop in and say hay, get a cupcake and get ready for gelato.
My labels are due in this week and that means new flavors will be coming soon.
Matt