NHL and NBA players play for their native lands in world competitions. Stefano Biasini, who has won at the World Cup of Gelato for his native Italy, is flipping this tradition. He will compete for Team USA in the next Coppa del Mondo Di Gelateria, which will be held Jan. 20-24, 2018, in Rimini, Italy. Biasini, a partner in the Center City restaurant Gran Caffe L'Aquila (1716 Chestnut St.), is here on a 0-1 Visa - the so-called "celebrity" visa - and has qualified for U.S. permanent residency.

By dispensation of his Italian team and the officials of the competition, Biasini has been granted approval to participate as an American. Biasini qualified at a recent U.S. competition with a gelato featuring Langhe hazelnut gelato, raspberry sorbetto accented with a vaniglia-lemon crema, and Italian milk chocolate crisps topped with a Torino fondente semi-sphere.