2022
Raise your hand if you love ice cream! July 17 was National Ice Cream Day in the U.S., but as Local Guides have shown us, every day can be ice cream day. And for Local Guide Flavio Karpinscki (@DionysusOverdrive), every place is an opportunity to try a new flavor!
Flavio’s love for ice cream started when he was a kid, but as he grew older, he wondered why some ice cream was better than others. “I decided to try ice creams from as many different shops as possible to find that out,” he shared. “Eventually, I was having ice cream everywhere I went, and my friends were asking me for advice, so I [started] reviewing shops on Google Maps.”
Just like his family albums are full of pictures of him eating ice cream, Flavio’s contributions on Maps are full of photos and reviews of ice cream places. He has over 60 reviews focusing on details like flavor, tradition, options for different dietary needs, and more.
Flavio believes that being a Local Guide allows him to help people find the best ice cream places and give owners honest feedback that other customers can see. “Finding good ice cream is hard! There are tons of shops, but very few go beyond the standard sugar and artificial coloring formula. On the other hand, there are people doing amazing things, exploring unusual flavors, developing mixes of textures, or different ways of presenting ice cream. Those people should be acknowledged; they are artists!”
Although he now lives in São Paulo, Brazil, Flavio’s traveled a lot internationally, collecting great ice cream spots into a list along the way. Is ice cream different around the world? Flavio is certain: “Ice cream is made differently everywhere! For instance, in France, they usually use eggs, which makes the ice cream creamy and silky. American ice cream has more air in it, making it light and soft, and Italian gelato contains a lot of milk, which gives it a special density.”
So, having tried so many flavors, which are Flavio’s favorites? “I was once a chocolate chip enthusiast; then I had a lemon pie moment. Nowadays, I'm divided between Coffee with a Lemon Twist you can only find at Gelato Boutique in São Paulo and the Roquefort Cheese flavor at Gelateria Ca'n Miquel in Spain.”
If you’re also looking to discover your passion as a Local Guide, here’s a tip from Flavio: “It's all about the people. Find the people you like to connect with, and this connection will help you find your passion.”
Local Guides, do you love ice cream? Share with us your favorite review or photo of ice cream in the comments below!
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