Focus on Gianduia, Part 17: Il Duce e il Dolce

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May 022011
 

Most efforts to historically contextualize gianduia focus solely on the era of its presumed invention in the mid-1860s.  However, as we’ve seen, many components of the gianduia myth first arose in the 1930s, through Cagliano’s article in Il Dolce (1932), Succ. Caffarel Prochet & Co.’s “Gianduia 1865” marketing campaign (1936), and the booklet Il Cioccolato ed il Suo Valore Alimentare (1933).  The 1930s witnessed a confluence of factors favorable to increased prominence and production of gianduia—a perfect storm, with Benito Mussolini at the eye.

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Focus on Gianduia, Part 16: Myth-making in the 1930s

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Apr 252011
 

We now jump forward to the 1930s.  It was in this decade, between two World Wars, that the myth of gianduia was defined.  Though a number of historical factors converged to elevate gianduia in this period (some of which will be discussed in Part 17), two of the key players were Walter Bächstädt and Paolo Audiberti (1).

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Focus on Gianduia, Part 14: The 1867 Baptism of Gianduia (or was it 1869?)

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Apr 112011
 

The story of gianduia’s naming is as common as that of its creation.  As with the prevailing account of its 1865 origin, the naming myths are also traceable to Succ. Caffarel Prochet & Co.

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Focus on Gianduia, Part 13: Michele Prochet and the 1865 Birth of Gianduia

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Apr 042011
 

If the first gianduiotto appeared during the politically pivotal 1865 carnival season, it would contribute significantly to the confection’s legend, associating it with Gianduia’s symbolic reconciliation of the Turinese with Vittorio Emanuel II in the interest of the Risorgimento.  But did it? Continue reading »

Focus on Gianduia, Part 9: Did Michele Prochet Invent Gianduia in 1852?

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Mar 072011
 

Having introduced the Waldensian dramatis personæ, we move on to the next oft-cited date for the origin of gianduia: 1852.

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