You might have never heard of Gnocchi Day--in fact, you might have never heard of gnocchi. These little flour and potato dumplings have their roots in Italy. They became integrated into South American cuisine by Italian immigrants in the early 20th century, particularly in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Venezuela. They're especially popular on the 29th of every month, but don't worry--you don't have to be in South America to make a tradition out of eating gnocchi.
Steps
- Familiarize yourself with the history behind Gnocchi Day. When people got paid on the first of every month in South America, money was always tight by the end of the month. Gnocchi became a good way to enjoy a hearty, inexpensive on a meager budget, since all you really need are potatoes and flour. The tradition continues--if you visit Buenos Aires, Argentina at the end of the month, you'll often find restaurants and fresh pasta shops advertising gnocchi specials on the 29th, or if you're lucky, you might get invited to a gnocchi dinner.
- Prepare gnocchi on the last day of the month. You can also choose to eat it on the day before pay day. The idea is to get together with friends and family and enjoy a filling meal together even though pockets are emptier than usual. There are many variations of gnocchi that you can experiment with.
- Put money under your plate. If you can get your hands on South American currency like a peso coin, put one under each plate as the South Americans did for good luck and prosperity. To keep the spirit of Gnocchi Day alive without exchanging your currency, put the coin or bill of your choice under each plate.
- Make a toast to "a full belly, a happy heart" or "panza llena, corazon contento" and dig in!
