The myth of Bologna’s tortellini
Janvier 01 2024
CURIOSITIES BOLOGNA 
The myth of Bologna’s tortellini
It has been a tradition for many years that Bolognese families get togheter on Sundays to enjoy a delicious plate of tortellini in steaming broth, evoking a deep-rooted tradition that is passed down from generation to generation, from grandparents to grandchildren, ready to be tasted together. These small filled dumplings, a typical Bolognese egg pasta, are a milestone of Italian gastronomic culture, and right here, in the heart of the city, our boutique hotel stands in Piazza Maggiore, where you can stop between one plate of tortellini and another. However, behind these delightful tortellini lies a question, the answer to which is still the subject of many feuds... who can truly claim the invention of these delicious tortellini?
The legendary origin of tortellini
The legend tells that the origin of the circular shape with the little fold on top of the tortellino is due to the numerous conflicts between Bologna and Modena; Mars and Venus were standing on opposite sides, but they found a moment of peace in a pub , and after pleasantly eating and drinking, they decided to rest for the night. However, the host, curious, couldn't resist the temptation to spy on them through the keyhole of their room and was surprised by the beauty of Venus' navel. He was so enchanted by that vision that the following morning he decided to reproduce that particular shape in the pasta he was preparing. The inn was located in Castelfranco Emilia, now in the province of Modena, but in the past, it was under the rule of Bologna. But don't be confused, because it is in 1965 that the Confraternity of the Tortellino is born, an association that fights to protect its purely Bolognese origin:
"For ages, through stories and legends, Bologna has been known as the creator of the tortellino, and there is no doubt about it."
The historical background
The tortellini’s art has its roots since XII century, even in that era it was reported the presence of "tortellorum ad Natale"which is described as Christmas dish. But that’s not all: in the 1300s, a recipe written in the Modenese dialect gave even more prominence to these delicious tortellini, which even the great Boccaccio dedicated a novella in the 1400s. Starting from the 1500s, evidence regarding this delicacy became increasingly numerous. Nothing less than mentions of a delightful "minestra de torteleti" appear several times in the Senate diary of Bologna. Even the famous personal chef of Pio V, in 1570, who was not residing in any kitchen less than the Vatican, included the recipe for tortellini in his valuable collection. In 1664, Vincenzo Tanara, in the famous book "L'economia del cittadino in Villa", described with great emphasis the delicious "tortellini cooked in butter," and in the 1800s, a French traveler and writer, Valery, reported the recipe of the tortellini's great-grandfather, with beef suet, egg yolks, and parmigiano. Despite their goodness until the last century tortellini were popular as a regional dish, and it was not until the Bartagni brothers achieved the challenge of bringing them to California in the distant year of 1906, at the Los Angeles Fair, where they were warmly appreciated, that they gained international recognition. From that moment, their popularity has skyrocketed, thanks to their flavor that has conquered the world.
The authentic flavour of the Bolognese tortellino
According to tradition, the recipe for tortellini was born from a context of poverty, in which the less fortunate would reuse the scraps and leftovers of the meat that was served on the tables of the wealthy nobles. Over the centuries, the ingredients have been changed and modernized but now, in Bolognese tortellini, you can taste the flavor of pork loin, raw ham, the softness of mortadella, and a succulent broth made from capon and beef. It can also be accompanied by cream or even meat sauce, but we recommend savoring the typical tortellini in broth, rejuvenating after taking a nice walk or bike ride in the center of our Hotel with bycicle rental in Bologna .
The potential of artisanal preparation
And if you really want to taste the best tortellini, we recommend you to try the handmade ones, because it is well-known, here in the city, that these are clearly superior than the industrial ones of the super-market, since there is no bigger satisfaction than to enjoy it in its most authentic form, prepared with care and passion by the expert hands of our artisan chefs.
Assaggiate i tortellini nel cuore di Bologna
There is no doubt that our city is the home of many traditional restaurants serving delicious tortellini and, -fortunately- many of these are near our historic hotel, in the centre of Bologna. One of our rooms is dedicated to the heroic, comical poem of "La Secchia Rapita" by Tassoni, which describes the conflict between Bologna and Modena over a stolen bucket of water by the Modenese in Bologna and from this, another poet, Giuseppe Ceri, inspired by the work, writes a poem revealing the famous legend of tortellini. So, if you love Italian cuisine and want to immerse yourself in its fascinating history, you cannot miss the opportunity to taste tortellini in their infinite variations and visit the wonderful city that gave birth to them, while staying at the Art Hotel Commercianti.
What are you waiting for? Enjoy your meal!
Revenir
It has been a tradition for many years that Bolognese families get togheter on Sundays to enjoy a delicious plate of tortellini in steaming broth, evoking a deep-rooted tradition that is passed down from generation to generation, from grandparents to grandchildren, ready to be tasted together. These small filled dumplings, a typical Bolognese egg pasta, are a milestone of Italian gastronomic culture, and right here, in the heart of the city, our boutique hotel stands in Piazza Maggiore, where you can stop between one plate of tortellini and another. However, behind these delightful tortellini lies a question, the answer to which is still the subject of many feuds... who can truly claim the invention of these delicious tortellini?
The legendary origin of tortellini
The legend tells that the origin of the circular shape with the little fold on top of the tortellino is due to the numerous conflicts between Bologna and Modena; Mars and Venus were standing on opposite sides, but they found a moment of peace in a pub , and after pleasantly eating and drinking, they decided to rest for the night. However, the host, curious, couldn't resist the temptation to spy on them through the keyhole of their room and was surprised by the beauty of Venus' navel. He was so enchanted by that vision that the following morning he decided to reproduce that particular shape in the pasta he was preparing. The inn was located in Castelfranco Emilia, now in the province of Modena, but in the past, it was under the rule of Bologna. But don't be confused, because it is in 1965 that the Confraternity of the Tortellino is born, an association that fights to protect its purely Bolognese origin:
"For ages, through stories and legends, Bologna has been known as the creator of the tortellino, and there is no doubt about it."
The historical background
The tortellini’s art has its roots since XII century, even in that era it was reported the presence of "tortellorum ad Natale"which is described as Christmas dish. But that’s not all: in the 1300s, a recipe written in the Modenese dialect gave even more prominence to these delicious tortellini, which even the great Boccaccio dedicated a novella in the 1400s. Starting from the 1500s, evidence regarding this delicacy became increasingly numerous. Nothing less than mentions of a delightful "minestra de torteleti" appear several times in the Senate diary of Bologna. Even the famous personal chef of Pio V, in 1570, who was not residing in any kitchen less than the Vatican, included the recipe for tortellini in his valuable collection. In 1664, Vincenzo Tanara, in the famous book "L'economia del cittadino in Villa", described with great emphasis the delicious "tortellini cooked in butter," and in the 1800s, a French traveler and writer, Valery, reported the recipe of the tortellini's great-grandfather, with beef suet, egg yolks, and parmigiano. Despite their goodness until the last century tortellini were popular as a regional dish, and it was not until the Bartagni brothers achieved the challenge of bringing them to California in the distant year of 1906, at the Los Angeles Fair, where they were warmly appreciated, that they gained international recognition. From that moment, their popularity has skyrocketed, thanks to their flavor that has conquered the world.
The authentic flavour of the Bolognese tortellino
According to tradition, the recipe for tortellini was born from a context of poverty, in which the less fortunate would reuse the scraps and leftovers of the meat that was served on the tables of the wealthy nobles. Over the centuries, the ingredients have been changed and modernized but now, in Bolognese tortellini, you can taste the flavor of pork loin, raw ham, the softness of mortadella, and a succulent broth made from capon and beef. It can also be accompanied by cream or even meat sauce, but we recommend savoring the typical tortellini in broth, rejuvenating after taking a nice walk or bike ride in the center of our Hotel with bycicle rental in Bologna .
The potential of artisanal preparation
And if you really want to taste the best tortellini, we recommend you to try the handmade ones, because it is well-known, here in the city, that these are clearly superior than the industrial ones of the super-market, since there is no bigger satisfaction than to enjoy it in its most authentic form, prepared with care and passion by the expert hands of our artisan chefs.
Assaggiate i tortellini nel cuore di Bologna
There is no doubt that our city is the home of many traditional restaurants serving delicious tortellini and, -fortunately- many of these are near our historic hotel, in the centre of Bologna. One of our rooms is dedicated to the heroic, comical poem of "La Secchia Rapita" by Tassoni, which describes the conflict between Bologna and Modena over a stolen bucket of water by the Modenese in Bologna and from this, another poet, Giuseppe Ceri, inspired by the work, writes a poem revealing the famous legend of tortellini. So, if you love Italian cuisine and want to immerse yourself in its fascinating history, you cannot miss the opportunity to taste tortellini in their infinite variations and visit the wonderful city that gave birth to them, while staying at the Art Hotel Commercianti.
What are you waiting for? Enjoy your meal!