This past week-end the parents of an Italian friend of ours invited us to their annual end of summer party. It’s an occasion for the extended family and friends to get together before winter starts and it, of course, revolved around food. But not just any food. Aunts and cousins from the Emilia-Romagna area of Italy came up to prepare the famous gnocco fritto.
Gnocco fritto is a fried dough that is served with cold sliced meats and cheeses. They are absolutely delicious. And addictive. And rich. Imagine eating a piece of fried dough with cheese and pancetta on top? I managed to scoff down a good 4 or 5 but I did see some people who were closer to 20. I’m surprised I didn’t see some of them passed out under the various fruit trees by the end of the afternoon (especially since there were many bottle of Lambrusco consumed as well).
These ladies started preparing the pasta early in the morning and worked straight through to late afternoon frying up pan after pan of these light and crispy gnocco.
My dainty daughters who have miniature sized stomachs managed to eat 1 1/2 gnocco. This is Nico eating his 8th (and they wonder why their little brother who is 2 years younger weighs more than them!).
I took along some mini cupcakes. The Italians thought they were the sweetest looking cakes they’d ever seen. I’m pretty sure only my kids actually ate them though. I saw many of the Italians eating the gnocco fritto with fruit salad on top for dessert. They told me it “cleaned the gnocco out of their system”.
The party took place in a lovely field with fruit trees of every kind. And 6 alpacas staring us from the other side of a fence. I think they were probably thrown at least one gnocco fritto during the party.
