cartolina da Perugia: pinoccate / postcard from Perugia: pinoccate

(also called pinocchiate)

A pinoccata (or pinocchiata) is a lozenge-shaped sweet made with zucchero e pinoli (sugar and pine nuts). Altrimenti detto (in other words), a pinoccata is pure indulgence. As you can see from the photo, pinoccate can be either white or brown (if cocoa powder is added to the two main ingredients). They are traditional Christmas sweets.

When I was a child, my father, responsible party for the Holiday sweets' shopping, would by some for my mother, who loves them. I would take just a bite and did not need more, because pinoccate are intensely, intoxicatingly sweet. You can chew your mouthful or, like me, you can let the sugar melt in your mouth to leave behind a small cluster of tasty toasted pine nuts, whose flavor slowly emerges as the sugar wears off from your taste buds. 

 Let me introduce you to one of the most important monuments of my home town: the Fontana Maggiore, a gorgeous fountain built in 1275-78 adorned with sculptures by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano (a father and son team).

The building you can see behind the fountain is the city hall, Palazzo dei Priori, the first portion of which was built between 1293 and 1297. The entrance to the building is around the left corner, on Corso Vannucci. Perugia is actually much older than all that: the Etruscans started building massive walls around the city in the 6th century BCE.

This is a closer view of the door to the Sala dei Notari (go inside if you happen to visit: it is a beautiful, stately room) over which stand guard the two symbols of the city, il grifo e il leone (the griffin and the lion). These are reproductions: the original bronzes are kept in a museum. My higher than ground level vintage point was achieved by walking up the steps on the side of the cattedrale di San Lorenzo: in truth, this cathedral is not particularly striking from the outside, though this should not prevent you from going inside, a highly recommended move. There is much more to see in Perugia, but I will stop here for today.

From the steps of the cattedrale I will make a couple of announcements regarding special events.

• Menu for Hope 4: Chez Pim's event in support of the UN World Food Program is on, and I invite you to visit her web site and read about how you can participate in this great initiative.
• FreeRice: Novel Food co-host Lisa has posted about this entertaining way of donating grains of rice to the same program. I am scoring quite well in the game: how about you?
• Food Blog Awards 2007: It's nomination time over at the Well Fed Network site, in 14 categories. Until the end of Wednesday, you can nominate blogs in some or all of them. Then it will be time to vote on the five blogs chosen among the ones nominated in each category.
• Weekend Herb Blogging: Kalyn's brainchild has reached edition number 112 and this week I have the high honor of being the host.
• Last, but not least, Aspettando Natale/Waiting for Christmas: Francesca is hosting this bi-lingual Holiday event that is expected to collect a great selection of recipes. I am working on a special creation for the occasion.

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Click on the button to hear me pronounce the Italian words mentioned in the post: 

pinoccate

or launch the  pinoccate  audio file [mp3].

[Depending on your set-up, the audio file will be played within the browser or by your mp3 player application. Please, contact me if you encounter any problems.]

Comments

[Peter]

I love how in Italy there's a fountain at nearly every Piazza. The Greeks sadly lagged in this aspect of town planning.

Also Simona, thank you for nominating my food blog. It was a surprise and I'm touched, thank you!

[Maryann]

That's a beautiful fountain, Simona :)

[Kevin]

I like the cartolina concept! I used to like sucking the chocolate off chocolate-covered-almonds before eating the nut. But your story sounds far more cultured and wonderful. :)

[lenny]

I tuoi post sono sempre interessantissimi.
Baci

[Laurie Constantino]

freerice is addictive -- i've had to cut myself off!

[Alex]

Queste pinoccate proprio non le conoscevo! È una vita che non vado a Perugia! E grazie per la segnalazione degli eventi! Un abbraccio

[A scientist in the kitchen]

Must have been a wonderful visit home.

[Francesca]

bella ricetta Simo, tradizionale e tipica di una città che amo molto.
Ricordati di mandare l'email con tutti i dati. Baci!

[Paz]

I'd love to taste pinoccate on the steps of the cattedrale. How exciting that you'll be the WHB host!

Paz

[Simona]

You are more than welcome, Peter! I have never been to Greece, so I did not know about what you mention: interesting.

Thanks, Maryann.

Hi Kevin, something to keep in mind for your next trip to Italy.

Grazie, Lenny.

Hi Laurie: I had to exert some pressure on myself too. I have always been into word games.

Ciao Alex: sono da provare, almeno un pezzetto.

Hi Gay: it was. I really like my home town.

Ciao Francesca. Il mio post per il tuo evento arrivera' verso fine settimana. A proposito, devo fare piu' foto.

Hi Paz, I am indeed quite excited.

[Susan from Food Blogga]

Ooh, pine nut candies? Yum! I don't think I've had them before. I love the anise candies I get at my local Italian market in Little Italy. I'll have to ask about these next time I'm there.

[Simona]

Hi Susan. Let me know how it goes: I am curious to know whether they can be found here.

[anna maria]

I was in Perugia for just 2 hours last October, but I did get to see the Fontana Maggiore. It was beautiful and so is Perugia. I hope to return some day, for a few more hours!

[Simona]

I hope you will, Anna Maria: there are more beautiful things to see in Perugia.