October 2009 Newsletter
Eurochocolate Festival - 16-25 October 2009, Perugia
For ten days during October, Perugia is turned into the Mecca for all chocoholics. Eurochocolate takes place between the 16th and the 25th and fills the streets of Umbria's capital with all things related to the cocoa bean. From chocolate scuplture to seminars and cookery courses, this world-renowned festival is sure to send your endorphin levels through the roof!
Eurochocolate first started in 1993 with the support of Perugina, one of the world's largest producers of chocolate, and fast became one of the most important events in Umbria's calendar. Perugina is now owned by Nestlé and continues to produce the Bacio ("kiss") confectionery which has found its way all around the globe (although seems to have by-passed our fair isles, more's the pity). As well as this fine example of the "food of the gods", other well-known names can be found throughout the exhibitors including Lindt and Caffarel.
The theme for the 15th edition is Rompete le Righe ("Break the Rules"), so you can expect to find some exhibitions that are out of the ordinary in the 150 stalls. As well as actually being able to eat this amazing foodstuff, you can see it in some more unusual forms including huge sculptures which you can watch being carved by hand (and yes, you might be able to eat some of the chippings) and in body treatments in the spa area "Chocofarm". You can learn more about the history of chocolate and learn how to cook with it...but let's be honest, we're mainly there to stuff our faces and we all know that there's no such thing as calories when you're on holiday!
Perugina Bacio Chocolate
The Perugina Company was formed in 1907 in the beautiful hill town of Perugia in Umbria and soon became one of the most successful confectionary companies in Italy.
In 1922, Luisa Spagnoli, one of the founding members of the company, began to experiment with a new product, mixing together gianduia chocolate (which contains one third hazelnut paste and was invented in Turin in 1852) with hazelnuts that were usually discarded during processing. The product was delicious and took a rather strange form which resembled a fist and the chocolate came to be called Cazzotto, literally a punch. Later given the more romantic title of Bacio ("kiss") by Giovanni Buitoni and little love notes were placed inside the confectionary wrapping. Today, Bacio chocolates are one of the gifts most commonly exchanged between lovers, with sales hitting a record of 300 million in 2008! Perugina has four shops in New York including it's flagship store on Fifth Avenue.
Legend has it that Luisa Spagnoli, wife of one of the founders of the Perugina Company, invented the Bacio in honour of her young love, Giovanni Buitoni, the son of another founding member of the company, who was 14 years her junior. (Incidentally the Buitoni family continue to be famous for their pasta.) Luisa, forced to keep her love a secret, wrote short romantic messages which she wrapped inside the chocolate and gave to Giovanni. After Luisa's death, Giovanni wanted to keep this tradition and love messages, in various languages, can still be found in the wrappings.
Etruscan Chocohotel
Situated in the heart of Perugia, the Etruscan Chocohotel is a chocolate-themed 3* accommodation. It boasts 94 rooms, a spectacular terrace with view of the city and swimming pool and a chocolate-only menu option including "Noodles with Cocoa, Courgettes, Courgette Blossoms and Castelmagno Cheese Flakes" and "Rabbit with Pistachios and Chocolate"! It is the first hotel in the world dedicated to chocolate. As well as its beautiful rooms, all equipped with satellite TV, air-conditioning and mini-bar, the ground floor of the hotel houses an impressive Chocostore where you can buy many interesting cocoa products to eat, bathe in and wear!
If you are interested in booking at the Chocohotel, please be aware that Eurochocolate is their busiest time and rooms are extremely limited.