Vancouver's Bella Gelateria advances in Gelato World Tour

One of Vancouver's busiestgelatoshops is in the spotlight after being namedone of threeNorth American gelato makers chosen to advance in an internationalgelato competition.

BellaGelateria,located on the corner of Burrard and Cordova streets, won the Gelato World Tour round held in Austin this month using a mix of toasted and saltedpecans,Montmorencytart cherries and Tahitian vanilla.

James Coleridge, the primarycreative force behind the flavour combination, says he's had success in the past combining sweet and salty ingredients. He alsowanted to based the flavour ona popular Texas-grown ingredient to appeal to the local voting crowd.

"The pecan is a really special nut," he told CBC News.

"Addingthe salt, the sour and the sweetness of everything really hit all the notes of a world-class flavour,whichfortunately now will be used in Italy when we go to the next level."

Coleridge's win at the World Gelato Tour in Texas means he will compete for the international top title at the finals this September in Rimini.

The plan is to feature amade-in-Canadaingredientin the mix that has paid off for Coleridge in the past.

"We're going toadd Canadian maple syrup to it," he said.

Maple syrup was used in the gelatorecipethat won Coleridge the top spot at the Florence Gelato Festival in 2012.