Madison, Wi - 6 December, 2006 -

Paciugo, the award-winning authentic Italian gelateria and Caff? from Italy, has opened its first store in Wisconsin located at 341 State Street. Paciugo, pronounced pah-CHOO-go, offers a variety of gelato (Italian for ice-cream) including milk-based, soy-based, water-based, and no-sugar-added gelato. The upscale gelateria is owned by Aristo Setiawidjaja and Roberto Setiawijaya, whose passion for the refreshing and wholesome Paciugo gelato products drove them to secure the franchise license for Madison. "Our goal," said Aristo Setiawidjaja, "is to give the student community and residents of Dane County the exquisite Italian experience without ever leaving Wisconsin." While gelato is rapidly gaining popularity in America, Paciugo has set the standard for the premium product. Created using four-generation family recipes and the highest-quality, freshest ingredients, Paciugo gelato has been winning taste tests since the company's founding in 2000. Company founder Ugo Ginatta, attributes the gelato's superior taste to the authenticity of its ingredients and production technique. Many of the dry ingredients are imported directly from Italy. Ginatta, a native from Torino, Italy, said chocolate is imported from Belgium and the fresh fruit and dairy products are obtained from regional farms. There are no preservatives in Paciugo gelato and each gelateria prepares approximately 30 to 40 flavors fresh daily. Unlike ice cream, Paciugo gelato is made without cream or butter, which keeps the fat content at about 3.5 percent (a little higher for flavors that contain cocoa and nuts). Paciugo's sorbetti are fat free and the creamier-tasting milk-based gelato is 50 to 70 percent lower in fat than premium ice cream. "You will not be able to find anything like it in Madison," said Roberto Setiawidjaja. "It just melts in your mouth and leaves you feeling refreshed without being stuffed with lots of calories." In addition to gelato, Paciugo also serves frapp?s (milkshakes) and smoothies; affogato al caff? (espresso poured over gelato, a traditional Italian dessert); cioccolata calda (Italian style hot chocolate); and other specialty beverages. Paciugo also offers catering service for all events. See store for details. Paciugo's State Street location is open daily with hours on Monday ? Thursday from 11 a.m. ? 10 p.m.; every Friday ? Saturday from 11 a.m. ? 11 p.m.; and Sunday from 12 p.m. ? 9 p.m.

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