NATIONAL TORTELLINI DAY
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NATIONAL TORTELLINI DAY
Every pasta lover knows February 13th celebrates the traditional stuffed pasta on National Tortellini Day. But, do you think they know tortellini was as inspired by the Goddess Venus?
#NationalTortelliniDay
Tortellini is a signature dish from the Italian region of Bologna, where they claim to have created this stuffed pasta packed with flavor. Italian folklore says tortellini wasn't just invented. It was an inspiration born during a medieval war between the cities of Bologna and Modena.
Legend says the gods Venus, Mars, and Bacchus checked into an inn in the town of Castelfranco Emilia during a war. The innkeeper, mesmerized by Venus’s beauty, couldn't resist peeking through the keyhole of her room later that evening. The only thing he could see through the keyhole was her perfect belly button. Shocked and in awe, he turned around and immediately rushed to the kitchen to roll out a sheet of pasta, creating a shape almost identical to her naval. The tortellini was born.
Today, there is still a friendly rivalry Bologna and Modena over who truly owns the tortellini legacy. Both cities agreed to share the credit, with the town of Castelfranco Emilia officially being named the "Home of the Tortellino" because it sits exactly halfway between the two rivals.
Dotta Confraternita del Tortellino
There is an organization in Bologna called The Learned Order of the Tortellini (Dotta Confraternita del Tortellino). Established in 1965, Bologna was seeing a rise in fast food restaurants trying to sell their own versions of tortellini. A group of passionate Bolognese gourmets decided to form the Order to defend the traditional recipe of the glorious tortellini pasta. Members wear red and gold hats in the shape of tortellini to their meetings along with a ribbon around their neck that has a gold tortellini hanging on it. The Order is still in operation today.
There are many ways to prepare a tortellini dish. You may want to top it with a cheese sauce, cream sauce, pesto or tomato sauce, or follow one of the thousands of cooking blogs available for a great tortellini recipe.
7 NATIONAL TORTELLINI DAY CELEBRATIONS
- Find a recipe and try making some homemade tortellini!
- Order tortellini from your favorite restaurant. Remember to give them a shout-out, too!
- Try making fresh tortellini.
- Share your favorite recipes.
- Invite friends and family over for a tortellini meal.
- There are many different flavors of tortellini. Host a taste testing party with a variety of tortellini.
- Use #NationalTortelliniDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL TORTELLINI DAY HISTORY
National Day Calendar staff have visited several restaurants that serve tortellini in hopes of discovering who created National Tortellini Day. Not only are we stuffed with research, we were also stuffed with pasta.
We conclude there is no single person officially credited creating National Tortellini Day. We did learn the day first appeared around 1974 when Italian-American pasta importers and restaurant associations wanted to celebrate tortellini's leap from a regional Italian specialty to an international favorite. On the other hand, the day could've began after Learned Order of the Tortellini organization officially registered the "Authentic Secret Recipe" with the Bologna Chamber of Commerce. We think it was a combination of Italian-American pasta importers, restaurant associations, and the Learned Order of the Tortellini working together. Not that it matters. We're going to celebrate National Tortellini Day the only way we know how--eating as much tortellini our stomachs can handle.
Tortellini FAQ
Q. Can tortellini be frozen?
A. Yes. Tortellini, like many other kinds of pasta, can be frozen. You can even purchase frozen tortellini.
Q. What kinds of fillings can go in tortellini?
A. Fillings range from cheeses, meats, seafood and vegetables. Try them all!
Q. What kinds of sauces go well with tortellini?
A. Butter, cream and tomato sauces all compliment tortellini.