“Gnoccho, Salame e Fantasia” is a savory food feast dedicated to the gastronomic delight of salame on gnocco fritto (batter fried into a cracker). Rubiera hosts this food event as part of their December-long calendar of holiday events. When you see the word Gnocco your mind may travel immediately to gnocchi, the potato filled pasta. However, what we are talking about here is Gnocco Fritto, a crispy, fried dough in the shape of a cracker or pillow served as an appetizer with meats or lard. It has different names with slight recipe variations throughout the region: Gnoccho Fritto in Rubiera, Pinzino in Ferrara, and Chisolino near Piacenza. Flour, bacon fat or oil, milk, water, yeast and salt are mixed together to form a dough that rises over time. It is then rolled into a sheet, cut into triangles and rectangles and boiled in lard. The results are small pillows or crispy, cake-like crackers.
Rubiera is a town set in the countryside of the Emilia province of Emilia-Romagna with beautiful, portico-lined streets. Its original name was Corte de Herberia translated as “in the middle of the plain” in Celtic. Located along the ancient Via Emilia, it is about 30 miles northwest of the University city of Bologna. The Via Emilia is an ancient Roman trade route running from Piacenza to Rimini on the Adriatic Coast, where in ancient times, it connected to the Via Flaminia route to Rome.
Rubiera can easily be reached by car off of the A1 motorway that runs between Parma and Bologna off the Modena Nord exit. Consider visiting some nearby balsamic vinegar producers or visiting the Ferrari Museum in Maranello.
LINKS
Gnoccho, Salame e Fantasia Event Link
Rubiera, Reggio Emilia, Emilia Romagna Region on the map
ABOUT
Lisa M. Vogele is the author of Food & Folklore: A Year of Italian Festivals, a travel reference guide that “helps you go local” by incorporating festivals into your travel planning. You can find out more information about Lisa’s books and “Fun with Food & Festivals” Tours at Lisa’s Travel Guides.
PHOTO CREDITS
Gnocco Fritto with Salame and Lard Appetizers artnbarb via Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA
Rubiera Porticos Turismo Emilia Romagna via Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA
Rubiera Street Turismo Emilia Romagna via Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA
Gnocco Fritto, Salame & Wine thepinkpeppercorn via Foter.com / CC BY
Gnocco Fritto, Salame & Olive Oil hotelrealfini via Foter.com / CC BY-ND
Forte di Rubiera By I Sailko via Wikimedia Commons
Piazza Padella, Rubiera I Sailko via Wikimedia Commons
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