Who invented the tortellini? We are told by the Emilian rezdore, among the protagonists of the special July issue of La Cucina Italiana. You can find them on page 42, service "The navel of the world" by Sara Tieni
A few words can fully tell the magic and tradition contained in the tortellini. For this reason, we thought of doing it through the voice of those who still contribute to making them a symbol of love, family and above all goodness. Who better than the rezdore of Castelfranco Emilia can you reveal the secrets and the legend of the tortellino?
The rezdore – as they say in the Emilian dialect – they are the "rulers" of the house, those who in the past supported the head of the family and managed all aspects of family life within the home. Among the responsibilities, there was certainly no lack of preparing the perfect pastry for tortellini.
We had the pleasure of meeting some wonderful rezdores at the voluntary association San Nicola, in Malvasia Castle in Panzano. To tell us the legend of the tortellino was Graziella, 75 years old (in the photo below you can see her together with her granddaughter Valentina, 21 years old, ready to receive the teachings of her grandmother).
The legend of the tortellino
Bologna is Modena they have always claimed the paternity of the tortellino, but Graziella has no doubts. The tortellino was born in Castelfranco Emilia: a slightly drunk host had the good fortune to host a splendid woman in his inn (according to one version of the legend, it was Venus himself) and, peering through the lock of the room, he was shocked by its beauty. His navel was particularly striking, so much that he decided to reproduce it with fresh pasta …
In video below you can discover the legend of this legendary stuffed pasta, watching the closing of the tortellino performed by the expert hands of Graziella. Listening to its history with an authentic Emilian accent is a plus not to be missed.
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