Our Story
At hila, we believe that great food has the power to bring people together. Our story began in 2023, when Ilary (Hila for friends), a passionate chef and lover of gelato, moved from Sicily to San Francisco. Growing up on Sicilian countryside, Ilary learned to appreciate the simple pleasures of nature and the rich flavors of traditional Italian cuisine. She spent countless hours in kitchens and farms, cooking with the locals, learning all the secrets to working with and enhancing the products of the land, reinterpreting them in both traditional and modern cuisine. She even borrowed secret recipes and precious teachings on how to use every part of the ingredient, such as the orange peels and olive pulp.
Ilary loves street food and old traditions, such as eating ricotta in a "cavagna," a bamboo container where ricotta was stored to drain and then eaten. She loves a simple and "poor" cooking style that enhances individual ingredients, as true Italian culinary tradition demands. For example, using orange peel to make candied fruit, traditionally placed on cannoli. When in Italy, Ilary produces her own olive oil and harvests olives from her farm with her dear friends.
Ilary's love for food and her commitment to sustainability led her to work in the food industry, open various food businesses, and eventually discover the world of gelato, making it her main work in Palermo, Sicily, where she has 10 years of experience. When she and her wife Ceci moved to San Francisco, they were inspired by the vibrant cultural scene and the abundance of organic farms and wineries.
In early 2023, while walking through the city, they randomly met Juan and Rosamari, the previous owners of Xanath, a beloved gelato shop that had been a landmark in the Mission District for 13 years. Ilary was inspired by their dedication to using high-quality ingredients and contributing to the community. They decided to take over Xanath and continue to offer the characteristic flavors of the gelateria, such as saffron and vanilla, while also bringing their passion for Italian gelato, coffee, pastries, and savory food. And so hila was born, a gelateria that honors old traditions and embraces new ones.
At hila, we are committed to using only natural and sustainable products and powering our shop with solar panels. We believe that every small step can make a big difference, and we are proud to contribute to a healthier planet while satisfying our guests' cravings with an extremely genuine product. We don't want to be just a great gelateria; we are also a place for meeting and socializing. In Sicilian, it is said "tavola è trazzera" - the table attracts - and we want hila to be a welcoming space where all members of the community can gather, share space and time, and make new friends. Whether you are a local or a tourist, part of the LGBT+ community or the Italian-American community, or just looking for a place to relax with your soccer team after training or a game (go Blaze!), we invite you to come to hila and experience the joy of great food and good company.