Last 5th Feb was Nutella World Day 2010 and as usual I’m late celebrating it, but as wise men say, rather late than never! Nutella is more than just a “chocolaty hazelnut spread,” it is a way of life.
From childhood memories to oozing hot crepes, from breakfasts on vacation to free-spooning sessions on the couch, Nutella is prominent in the memories of many children and grown-up children in the world. Nearly three generations of Europeans have grown up eating Nutella, which was created in the 1940's by Pietro Ferrero, a pastry maker and founder of the Ferrero Company. Starting in the 60’s my granddad was one of the many hazelnut suppliers in the North-West Italy for Ferrero, so I was more or less born in the Nutella “family”. And since then the tradition has passed onto my children and …my husband too!
A few ways of eating Nutella: with a spoon, between two slices of white bread, onto a crusty baguette, in a crepe/pancake, in a crostata, in brioche/cornetti/croissant, in a donut, on top of gelato (ice-cream), dip a banana into it, etc. but my favourite will always be au naturel, spooned out of the jar with my index finger!!!! Not very elegant, I know, but terribly delicious…
Ode to Nutella
(by Heidi Hoskins)
(by Heidi Hoskins)
O dear Nutella you make me grin
Your creaminess spreads through my insides
Like the of warmth of young love
Your warm color like the slick goey mud of childhood fun
Clues of your delectable contents avoid my experienced taste
Nutty, smooth
You smell of momma’s hugs and smoldering wood
Your texture like freshly ironed sheets
O how I love you my beautiful Nutella.
