For anyone who might kinda not recall who she was ... Queen Elisabeth, often remembered as Sissi, was born into the House of Wittelsbach in Munich. She was raised on the family’s country estate, Possenhofen Castle, on the shores of Lake Starnberg. Elisabeth was known for her love of Hungarian culture and her contribution to the memory of the Hungarian people, and was an important supporter of the Hungarian Compromise. Elisabeth’s death was also tragic, as she was assassinated in Geneva.
Gödöllő celebrates Sissi’s favorite flavors with its 60th anniversary ice cream: the ice cream for the city’s 60th anniversary has been introduced
Almonds, violets and sour cherries: these are the ingredients of the jubilee ice cream that the internationally awarded Sissi Ice Cream Parlor created for the 60th anniversary of Gödöllő being declared a city. The ice cream, named “Gödöllő60”, revives Queen Elisabeth’s favorite sweets in a modern form – the specialty was tested by Mayor Dr. György Gémesi among the first to test in the ice cream parlor’s workshop.
Gödöllő will celebrate the 60th anniversary of its declaration as a city in 2026. In honor of the anniversary year, the family-run Sissi Ice Cream Parlor, which has been operating in the city for 15 years, has created a special recipe. With this gastronomic gift, the company wishes to thank the settlement, which has been home to their artisanal workshop for a decade and a half.
Violets, almonds and sour cherries: a tribute to the past and local characteristics
When dreaming up the “Gödöllő60” ice cream, the creators were looking for a flavor that was both elegant and closely linked to the local history and the city’s natural characteristics. The choice fell on violets, almonds and sour cherries – the recipe is a direct reference to the historical figure of Queen Elizabeth and the former richness of the Gödöllő gardens.
The queen’s passionate love for violets was well known: it was her favorite flower, and she also sought out delicacies made from it. She also liked violet ice cream, syrups and candied violets; her perfume was also made from this flower, and her rooms were decorated with shades of violet. It is no coincidence that when she arrived in Gödöllő, the castle garden was regularly filled with violets in her honor.
In addition to the royal elegance, the creators also included local ingredients typical of the settlement in the concept. Sour cherries and almonds are closely linked to the city: Antal I. Grassalkovich, considered the founder of Gödöllő, had several large orchards, the memory of which is preserved in several street names to this day. The new flavor combines this dual heritage: the soft almond ice cream is completed with violet sour cherry sauce and a crunchy almond layer.
From the mayor’s tasting to international recognition …
The city ice cream prepared in honor of the anniversary year was first tasted by Dr. György Gémesi, – mayor of Gödöllő, in the ice cream parlor’s workshop.
Ice cream is one of my favorite desserts, fortunately, in addition to chocolate, vanilla, and punch, we can now taste hundreds of flavors and Sissi is a leader in this not only in Gödöllő, but also throughout the country. It is truly a great pleasure that the Gödöllő60 ice cream was created for the 60th anniversary of becoming a city – said Dr. György Gémesi.
Behind the words of appreciation lies serious professional work. The recipe is based on the experience of ice cream master Andrea Koncz, who has been making ice cream with her husband János Koncz for 36 years. Over the years, their names have been associated with numerous awards: the Sissi team has previously won the title of Balaton Ice Cream of the Year, and has been a multiple podium finisher and special prize winner in the Ice Cream of the Year competition. In addition to domestic successes, the ice cream shop is also at the forefront of the profession internationally: in September 2025, they were the only Hungarians to receive the prestigious “Master of Quality Award” at the Scirubetta Festival in Italy.
For fifteen years, Gödöllő has not only been the location of our work, but also our home. This is where our dream came true, and here we found a community that has supported us from day one. Gödöllő60 ice cream is not just a recipe: it is our personal gift and expression of gratitude to the city – said Andrea Koncz.
This world-class knowledge and local patriotism for the city are combined in each scoop of “Gödöllő60”. The festive dessert is available from today in the Sissi Fagyizó store in Gödöllő, so the city’s residents and visitors can celebrate the anniversary with a worthy.
Go for it … Give it a try … surprise you taste to enjoy new flavors.
Remommendation by Aggie Reiter
Rolling in Budapest 