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23
June 2006 / 23 de Junho 2006
What time? 12H30 of course!
The origin of tortellini is surrounded
by several legends.
One says that this dish was born in Castelfranco Emilia
(province of Modena). One night during a trip, Lucrezia Borgia
checked into an Inn in the small town. The host was captivated by
her beauty and couldn't resist the urge to peek into her room
through the keyhole. The light inside the bedroom was only made by
a few candles and so he could only see her navel. This pure and
innocent vision was enough to send him into an ecstacy that
inspired him to create the tortellino that night.
For some the shape of tortellini represents the bellybutton of
Venus, the Goddess of Love in Roman mythology (Aphrodite in Greek
mythology).
Another legend goes, Venus and Jupiter were to meet one night.
After Venus had checked into the inn, she waited for him on the
bed. The chef found out, went to her room and peeked through the
keyhole, where he saw her lying only partially covered on her back.
Overcome at seeing her navel, the chef was so inspired that he
created a stuffed pasta resembling her navel.
What is it?
Tortellini is a ring-shaped pasta, they are typically stuffed
with a mix of meat (pork loin, prosciutto crudo, mortadella) and
parmesan cheese although other stuffings are popular in the Po
Valley. Originally from the Italian region of Emilia (in particular
Bologna and Modena), they are usually served in broth, with cream,
or with a ragù or similar sauce. Traditionally, the most serious
restaurant in Bologna as well "La Confraternita del Tortellino"
agree that the only real Tortellino is served only in home made
broth. Tortellino with cream is widely accepted in Bologna but
criticized by some. Tortellino with ragù, although it can be found,
is considered by the vast majority of Bolognesi to be
non-authentic.
Come and exchange myths with
the Lunchtime Gang and find out if you tortellini or
not. |