So, I’m venturing out into the blogging world (i.e., reading other blogs from around the world) and my most recent addition (well, I followed for a bit last year), is Bleeding Espresso. Michelle of Bleeding Espresso is a huge proponent of something started two years ago called World Nutella Day.
Michelle along with Sara at Ms Adventures in Italy, are some serious Nutella fans, from birth I think. Now me, well, I wasn’t introduced to Nutella until sometime while I was living in St. Louis, maybe some 14 – 18 years ago, as a mighty delicious alternative to peanut butter. Unfortunately, it’s a love I abandoned some five years ago when I started to lose the weight. I tried to console myself with the knowledge that the Nutella we get in the states isn’t of the quality (i.e., ingredients) that my European brethren enjoy. Yeah, right.
Of course though, with that one consoling thought in my mind, I used it as justification to enjoy as much Nutella as I could handle when visiting France or Italy.
Now, let me let you in on a little secret, there’s one slight perk (and I mean slight) when you get diagnosed with breast cancer … thoughts of watching your weight go quickly (and appropriately) out the window.
So on our last trip to Italy in November, just before the chemo started, I wandered into a store in Pienza where I purchased a jar of Nocciolata by Slitti (Nocciolata = chocolate hazelnut) and for all you alcoholic SAT enthusiasts out there Nutella (in the US) is to Nocciolata like Pabst Blue Ribbon is to Long Trail Double Bag (actually the two shouldn’t be mentioned in the same sentence).
Nocciolata by Slitti
Now part of World Nutella Day (besides writing about it), involves demonstrating how you use it. And in all my grandiose plans, I thought of making some new and fabulous cookies, drink, fondue but when it came down to it, I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t give up what remains of my Nocciolata to a dish, which I’d have to share with others. This stuff is mine, all mine.
Mmmm…..on a spoon
So in the end, today (in addition to the spoon), I just enjoyed it the way I have been, spread on a piece of toasted cinnamon raisin bread.
Nutella on Toast – Breakfast of Champions
Kim, that looks so good. I love Nutella, but I’m not allowed to eat it in North America. Only in Italy.
See, you really need to go to Piemonte, if just for the huge variations of the chocolate-hazelnut theme in candy, spreads, ice cream, desserts…
My local fancypants food store is carrying Novi, which is less sweet than Nutella with less of the artificial stuff. Dangerous.
Today is World Nutella Day? Darn, I missed it. Well, I can celebrate it tomorrow… or this weekend … never too late for Nutella, I say.
Kim, I am with you – I LOVE Nutella. I eat it right out of the jar – it never makes its way to a piece of toast. I don’t dare have it around too often because it disappears in a day or so.
Yum! I am drooling just looking at your photos!
I have never tried Nutella. When I first saw it in Italy, I thought it was an Italian version of peanut butter and I do not like peanut butter. Once I finally found out what it was, it was too late because by then I found out that chocolate gives me major migraines. So, I guess I will never know. I do love hazelnut and used to love dark chocolate, so I probably would have liked it. I will just keep eating my almond butter 🙂
Oh that sounds soooo good! I actually saw something similar to your Nocciolata the other day at Le Pain Quotidien on Friday, it was a Belgian hazelnut chocolate spread. Must try!! And good for you for keeping it to yourself!
Yes! The breakfast of champions. So true. My very fav. Sometimes I add a bit of cinnamon dust.
Yummy! You are making my mouth water, Kim. When we were kids, we used to have Nutella and Peanut Butter sandwiches,but I always loved sneaking Nutella on a spoon too.
Nutella doesn’t really do it for me … give me hazelnuts without chocolate any day! But your pix are beautiful. 🙂