PLANO, Texas — Bazaria, in Plano, serves some of the best gelato in North Texas, and the only thing that made it possible was the deep freeze.
In 2021, Bazaria had only been open a few months when a bitter winter storm busted the pipes above them and flooded everything in their shop.
The store was closed for more than a year.
“It’s a gift from God,” said owner Mohammad Alqawasmi.
“It was devastating, but it was a blessing in disguise because he went and learned how to make gelato,” said Alqawasmi’s wife, Deema Alasaad.
At the time, Bazaria was selling scoops of ice cream made by a national brand, but while they were closed, Alqawasmi started making it himself.
He learned from gelato masters in Miami, Italy and the Middle East and eventually got pretty good at it.
So good, in fact, that someone suggested that he enter the Gelato Festival World Masters, the Olympics of gelato making.
For the competition, contestants create their own unique flavor and make it on the spot for the judges.
Alqawasmi made fig krokan, which is almond gelato with caramelized figs and caramelized almonds.
It’s a favorite of customers and now judges.
He placed second in the semifinals and will be one of 10 gelato chefs competing in the North American finals in Los Angeles in August.
The top three gelato chefs will advance to the world competition in Italy.
“When they announced I was second, I was so, so happy,” Alqawasmi said.
“I’m very proud of him and I didn’t think he’d come this far this fast,” said Deema.
He’s one of the best gelato artists in North America and he owes much of it to his wife.
Deema gave him the idea for fig krokan months ago, but he didn’t put it on the menu until customers suggested adding figs and nuts to his almond gelato.
“He was like, ‘it’s becoming our number one seller,’ and then I said, ‘uh huh, I’m sure it is,’” Deema recalled. “And he’s like, ‘did you suggest this before?’ And I was like, ‘yes, but you didn’t listen.’”
“From now on, I will listen to her within two minutes,” Alqawasmi laughed.
Now that’s a winning recipe.