Popular Melbourne pizza brand, 400 Gradi, will soon launch its third site, located in Essendon, which will be closely followed by a stand alone gelateria.
With existing outlets in Brunswick and the Crown Casino, the latest restaurant is expected to open in September and will comprise a traditional gelataria counter.
Owner Johnny Di Francesco also plans to open a stand alone gelataria named Zero Gradi a few doors down from the original 400 Gradi on Lygon Street in time for summer.
The move into gelato is one that Di Francesco has been considering for a while – the impetus of which was his most recent trip to Italy.
“My last journey to Napoli was a family trip, and gelato was something that just became an everyday thing for us,” he said. “The quality and range was incredible, and that’s what I want to bring to 400 Gradi. Great gelato is another aspect of traditional Neapolitan eating that should be an everyday enjoyment, and it perfectly complements the current Gradi Group offering.”
In 2014 Di Francesco was named the maker of the world’s best Napoletana pizza at the Pizza World Championships in Parma, Italy. 400 Gradi has also been granted certification by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN), meaning the venue serves authentic Napoletana pizza, according to the rigorous standards set by the home of pizza, Naples, Italy.