Victorian business Oh My Gelato! wins title of country's best
Looking for Australia's best gelato? I was in the room for this one, and I can tell you first-hand: Australia's best gelato has officially been named, and it's made right here in Victoria. Announced yesterday, May Quah and Apple Robles of Essendon's Oh My Gelato! took out the coveted title of the country's best with their bespoke competition flavour, "The Melbourne Marvel" — a knockout combination of Australian pistachio, espresso variegato and dark chocolate-coated honeycomb.
I attended the competition in person and experienced some genuinely sensational gelato. Tasting every single entry side by side, it was hard to pick just one favourite — but I cast my vote along with the rest of the crowd, and honestly, Australian gelato is next level right now. If you needed proof that our local artisan scene can go toe-to-toe with the best in the world, this was it.
Oh My Gelato! was one of six finalists competing at the inaugural Australian Association of Pastry, Gelato and Chocolate Australian Gelato Cup. Since Monday, within the halls of Melbourne's MCEC at the country's longest-running food industry event, Fine Food Australia, the finalists have been sharing their stories — and their gelato — in the hopes of taking out the top prize.
The winning duo will now prepare to head to Italy in November, representing Australia at the Sherbeth International Artisan Gelato Festival, with the goal of being named the best in the world.
People's Choice and Critic's Choice winners
People's Choice and Critic's Choice were also awarded on the day. Paola Guarin Sanchez of Merry Pops, NSW, took out People's Choice with her entry "El Amor de Mi Vida" — a flavour profile of macadamia gelato, dulce de leche, Colombian mango and macadamia crunch that had the crowd talking.
Andrea Calabrese of La Viennese, SA, won Critic's Choice with his "Scent of Home" flavour — a savoury-inspired avocado and Tahitian lime gelato finished with an extra virgin olive oil ripple. It was one of the boldest, most memorable entries on the table and a reminder of just how far gelato can be pushed as a craft.
A highlight of Fine Food Australia 2026
The inaugural Australian Gelato Cup has been a genuine highlight of this year's Fine Food Australia, running 31 August to 3 September at Melbourne's MCEC. It's a dedicated event for the foodservice and hospitality industry, where over 900 exhibitors — from local producers to international brands — come together to showcase the best of the industry.
For a home-grown scoop shop to go from Melbourne suburb to representing Australia on the world stage in Italy is exactly the kind of story TWLM loves to tell. Congratulations to May, Apple and the entire Oh My Gelato! team — and to every finalist who brought their absolute best to Melbourne this week.
More Melbourne sweet treats
Craving more after this? Check out our guide to the Best Doughnuts in Melbourne, or if you're planning a bigger night out, browse our pick of the Best Wine Bars in Melbourne to pair with dessert.