Oh Tiramisu, How we Love You
We’re in a love affair with tiramisu!
After that delicious Italian dinner of pizza, piccata, spaghetti, or scampi, nothing’s better than a light and flavorful tiramisu to round off the meal. The richly satisfying ladyfingers soaked in espresso layered with mascarpone cheese and dusted with cocoa powder have become almost synonymous with Italian desserts and are served around the globe. Those are the most common ingredients used, but there are many different ways it’s made. And there are many different ideas on how it came to be.
Tiramisu hails from Veneto, in the northeastern region of Italy. The word tiramisu stems from the phrase “tireme sù, which means “pick me up”. Keeping with the tradition of having hotly debated conversations around the dinner table, the origin of this dessert can be added to that list.
That’ll put some pep in your step!
Some sources say that the dessert was invented by “women of the night” to serve worn-out clients and give them more energy. And yet other sources say it originated in the 1600s to honor the Grand Duke of Tuscany when he visited the city of Siena. And then many say it has a much more recent history, coming on the scene in the 1960s or 70s, invented by a chef named Roberto Linguanotto in Treviso. However, there is a recipe for the dish by chef Norma Pielli, published a decade earlier and in the province of Udine.
Regardless of the debate on when and how it came to be, let’s talk about all variations of the tiramisu recipe. Experts believe that there are at least 200 different recipes for tiramisu, with ladyfingers being pretty much standard. Then chefs go off in their direction. Some soak the ladyfingers in alcohol, and some use brandy. Some use both or no alcohol at all. Mascarpone cheese gives it its creamy texture, yet some use only egg yolks and no cheese. Typically, it’s made with espresso-soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone cheese, and cocoa powder dusted on top and served chilled.
What wines go well with tiramisu? Find out at Boston Winery events! We host wine pairings with Venezia’s most popular dishes, including Vito Bruno’s family recipe for tiramisu. Join us to learn what we have to say about tiramisu!
