Today’s DOTD - Drink Of The Day - is a Chocolate Hazelnut Martini inspired by World Nutella Day! Who nu– er, knew?
First introduced in Italy as Nutella in 1964, Nutella is now popular around the world. World Nutella Day, first held in 2007, was the brainchild of Nutella enthusiast and blogger Sara Rosso. Fans love it (and of course, so does Nutella’s owner, Ferrero International S.A.). Each year. Nutella maker Ferrero selects one Nutella lover to lead the celebration. On February 5 each year, Nutella fans post pictures, recipes, and messages on their favorite social sites, declaring their love and loyalty to the popular spread.
An accident of history
After World War II, severe cocoa shortages existed throughout much of Europe. The shortages, combined with rationing in Italy, led baker & pastry maker Pietro Ferrero to create a substitute in 1946, by mixing scarce cocoa with sugar, and finely ground hazelnuts, which were abundant in the area around Piedmont, Italy, where he lived. This made a sweet paste that he shaped into loaves, that were dried, & then could be sliced and placed on bread. Signore Ferrero called this “new” invention “Giandujot.”
We say “new” because this wasn’t the first time that hazelnuts had been used to extend a limited supply of chocolate. In fact, “Giandujot” is a play on “Gianduja,” an original Italian blend of chocolate made with 30% hazelnut paste, and first invented in Turin during the early 1800s. During this time, Napoleon controlled Italy, and he had applied the “Continental Blockade,” a continent-wide trade embargo that prevented British goods from entering European ports under French control, which put a huge strain on cocoa supplies, which were imported from British-controlled islands. To make their limited supplies last, candy makers stretched the chocolate with hazelnut butter - so again, this technique wasn’t new to Italy.
What was new was Signore Ferrero’s loaves of dried chocolate, sugar, & hazelnuts. While Giandujot sold well, by 1951, customers were asking for a more spreadable version. So Ferrero created one, changing the loaf of cocoa, hazelnuts, & sugar into a creamy, spreadable version he renamed “Supercrema gianduja” or more commonly just “Supercrema.”
In 1963, Ferrero’s son Michele Ferrero, alongside Italian chocolatier and chemist Francesco Rivella, revamped Supercrema with the intention of marketing it to a wider market throughout Europe. Its composition was modified, and “Supercrema” was renamed “Nutella”.
WORLD NUTELLA DAY TIMELINE
1966: Introducing, Nutella!
The son of the company’s founder created the first-ever jar of a new hazelnut cream, named Nutella.
1978: Australia discovered Nutella. “Aus-tella,” anyone?
Nutella launched in Australia and opened its first plant outside Europe — in Sydney.
2005: Largest breakfast ever!
Nearly 28,000 Nutella enthusiasts gathered in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, to participate in the world’s largest continental breakfast.
2014: 50 years!
Nutella marked its 50th anniversary by holding celebrations in 10 countries around the world.
2017: The Nutella Cafe
The first Nutella Cafe opened on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.
WORLD NUTELLA DAY ACTIVITIES
World Nutella Day offers a host of opportunities for Nutella fanatics to get involved. You can host a Nutella party, write a Nutella poem or song, or create some Nutella art. You can also share photos and recipes on social media using the hashtag #WorldNutellaDay.
First, try it
If you’ve never tried Nutella, you can find it at almost any grocery store. Pick up a tub of the creamy mixture and try it with a cracker or some fruit - or on its own! Putting it down will be the hard part.
Make it your own
There are lots of recipes online for baking with Nutella, but that doesn’t mean you can’t come up with your own ideas on how to use it. The company encourages fans to explore new ideas for baking with Nutella, and to spread the word when they come up with something delectable/
Make a sandwich
Find two slices of bread. Spread a thick layer of Nutella on one. Slap the other on top. Or put Nutella on one piece of bread, and peanut butter on the other. And there you have it!
Add ice cream
Nutella makes a perfect topping for ice cream, especially after being heated up.
Nutella for breakfast?
Nutella goes well on a bagel, or as stuffing in a crepe.
Donuts!
Rather than using a regular creme or custard filling for your donuts, try Nutella.
The easy way
Just rip the top of that tub of Nutella and have at it with a spoon.
The beauty of Nutella is that you can put it on or in almost anything. Kids eat Nutella sandwiches. You can make Nutella ice cream. You can bake Nutella cakes and brownies. Ferrero, its parent company, practically begs you to find a dessert in which Nutella won’t work.
And of course, you can make cocktails with Nutella. Which is why we’re making today’s Drink Of The Day, a Chocolate Hazelnut Martini, with Nutella!
Ingredients
Here’s what you’re going to need for this drink:
