Contrasting from the gelato they serve, Vaniglia & Ciccolato is anything but cold. There’s a unique warmth within each of their South Florida locations that makes a gelateria feel like home. Each flavor tells a story; one that locals have savored for more than a decade, delicately curated by siblings Brando and Laura Quilli, who continue to carry a family legacy that began far from Florida.

According to Brando Quilli, gelato wasn’t the first thing his family sold. “Our parents started with a tailoring shop in Italy,” Brando explained. “One day they got tired of it, and during the remodel they decided to open a gelato store instead. They even went to a university to learn how to make their own recipes.”

That decision changed everything. In 2008, the family moved from Rome to Florida, and by December 2009, they opened the first Vaniglia & Ciccolato shop. Laura still remembers the grand opening vividly.

“I was 9 and my brother was 10,” she said. “The shop was yellow and red back then, and we were at the register helping our parents.”

Before the move, their father Stefano Quilli had always imagined building a life in the United States. After spending time in New York working as a DJ, and with their mother already familiar with Miami, the decision to relocate felt natural for the family.

They eventually settled in Pembroke Pines, as they were drawn to its peaceful community and good schools. Much like their life in Rome, everything remained close to home, with family and the gelato shop only a few minutes apart.

Today, Vaniglia & Ciccolato has amassed multiple locations, including a production lab that supplies gelato across South Florida. Despite the growth, the recipe remains untouched.

“We’ve never changed our recipe,” Brando said proudly. “We still use the same ingredients, most of them from Italy. The pistachio comes from Sicily, near Mount Etna, and it’s certified. That’s what makes it different.”

Inside their lab, the team makes everything from scratch four days a week. “We don’t use any bases,” Brando said. “We start from zero; the sugar, the milk, the heavy cream, and the real ingredients. That’s why you can taste the difference.”

Their favorite ingredient, as stated by Laura is “love”, which the owner noted was essential to setting their company apart.

Their dedication to the community is most clear in moments of challenge. Even through hurricanes and power outages, the shop has stayed open, offering tasty comfort when it’s needed most. Brando explained that not even the pandemic stopped them from serving their customers, “we just adjusted to safety rules and kept going.”

That same determination to adapt and keep moving forward has motivated the company’s growth beyond its storefronts. Their gelato carts, that are adorned for weddings, birthdays, and corporate events, have become a South Florida favorite. After transforming the one tiny cart their parents purchased for beach weddings, the siblings were able to bring the idea back, make a few videos. Amid the success, they purchased five carts and a van, now allowing them to travel much faster.

Laura’s favorite aspect of the carts is the events they attend. She says, “With the events, it’s different every time, different people, themes, decorations. We even match the flavors to the event. For a gender reveal, we’ll do strawberries for girls and birthday cake blue for boys.”

Both Laura and Brando hope to channel that energy into the ongoing rebrand of the company. Laura specifically reflected on how necessary it is to balance innovation and heritage.

“We’re trying to build a stronger brand identity,” she said. “It’s important to stay trendy, but still keep our traditions. There’s nothing wrong with change when you hold onto what matters.”

Their new notion is to modernize the look of their stores while preserving the authenticity that has defined their family’s business since day one.

Still, the path to success hasn’t always been smooth. Running a family business has come with its fair share of challenges for Brando and Laura Quilli. Balancing the weight of leadership with family dynamics has tested their patience and communication, but it has also strengthened their partnership.

Brando explained that being a family-owned business often leads to disagreements, yet they always find a way to work through them. He credits their parents for setting the standard of how to treat others, emphasizing that kindness and respect have guided the company since the beginning.

For the siblings, keeping that care extends beyond family ties and into each of their establishments. Laura said that they treat their employees like family and believe that is the heart of their success. Over time, the experience of working side by side has brought the two closer than ever before.

Despite once struggling to connect, Laura now describes their partnership as one built on mutual trust and shared purpose. “We used to not talk,” she said with a laugh, “but now we’re business partners, and it’s made us stronger.”

To them, gelato represents more than dessert, it represents joy. “It’s something that makes people happy,” Laura said. “It’s a treat; you shouldn’t feel bad about it.”

Every scoop is made with amore, it is symbolic of their heritage and the care they put into their craft.

From the nectarous aroma, to the authentic music and taste, the experience is meant to transport customers straight to Italy. The owners have added their own timeless touch, a reminder that Italy doesn’t just come to you at Vaniglia & Ciccolato, it’s here to stay.

This story was originally published on CHAT News on October 31, 2025.