Nutella: If you have never had it, you probably wonder what all the hype is about this spread. If you have had it, then you agree that this deliciousness in a jar definitely deserves its own holiday. We have two bloggers from 2007 to thank for creating this holiday as they petitioned for a worldwide holiday to celebrate this arguably addictive substance. If you are not convinced that any food is worth having a holiday about, maybe by the end of this article you will be convinced otherwise and you will join me in celebrating National Nutella Day tomorrow, February 5th.
1. You can put it on basically anything! From fruit to toast as well as waffles and even bacon (yes I said BACON), Nutella could arguably be the best spreadable concoction there is out there! It always adds a little sweetness to whatever you’re eating. I personally like mixing Nutella and peanut butter and spreading it on apple slices.
2. There is actually a Nutelleria in NYC…and I want to go. Some genius finally realized that a restaurant with a menu solely devoted to products with Nutella is a far better real estate investment than yet another nail salon, frozen yogurt place or Starbucks on the streets of NYC. Although the menu is limited to items only with Nutella, I don’t know how one could decide between Nutella crepes or Nutella waffle sandwiches on any given day. Check out the magnificent menu for yourself!
3. It is “healthy.” To answer the question, “Is Nutella healthy?” I did the most logical thing: I Googled it. And was happy to get this answer: “Nutella is a hazelnut-chocolate spread similar to peanut butter but with a sweeter flavor. Though the spread contains saturated fat and sugar, it also supplies a good amount of key vitamins and minerals that you need for good health.” I do not plan to question the matter further.
4. Recipes with Nutella are bountiful. My Pinterest board is full of “Nutella-fied” desserts that look so amazing. One can bake anything from simple 5-ingredient Nutella cookies to more complex treats like Nutella-Espresso Mousse Brownies (and any of these other BuzzFeed-worthy recipes). One cannot help but want to indulge their sweet tooth and not be disappointed. Simply type in “Nutella recipes” on Pinterest or Google and your horizons will open!
5. It comes in every size! From tiny jars that can fit in your purse as an on-the-go snack to a colossal container that will take up an entire freshman dorm-sized closet, Nutella comes in jars of every size. The speed to which you go through each jar is a measurement of your addiction.
6. Just a spoonful of Nutella helps hot beverages go down. I have always been a fan of hot chocolate and my college years have truly increased my appreciation for coffee. Adding a spoonful of Nutella, however, brought the adoration I had for this hot beverages to a whole other level. For an extra sweetness kick or to thicken up your drink, try stirring in a spoonful of Nutella.
7. Nutella is loved worldwide and celebrated internationally. Nutella is one of those things that has a unifying force for all nations of the world and the love for it brings us all together! Nutella is sold in over 75 countries worldwide. The amount of Nutella bought in one year could spread across 1000 soccer fields. If you ever doubt how to gift one of another culture, chances are Nutella will be warmly accepted.
8. When in doubt, all you need is a spoon (or your finger). I will admit that I spent many late nights during my semester abroad in Italy sitting in my bed, watching Netflix with a spoon and jar of Nutella. If we had no clean spoons left, my God-given index finger
9. Such a phenomenon as “The Smearing” does exist. Do not worry, “The Smearing” is not the name of a new scary movie but instead a phenomenon the United States should consider adopting. According to Mentalfloss.com, “Nutella became so popular in Italy that Italian markets began to offer free “smears” of Nutella to any kid who showed up with a piece of bread.” I am very tempted to go buy a loaf of bread and approach my friends to try to “spread” this here. Thoughts?
10. Recent BC visiting student, Kobe Bryant, is a fan of Nutella. Kobe Bryant is also a lover of this chocolatey-hazelnut spread! Back in the early 2000’s, Kobe was actually the face of Nutella! If you bought of a jar of Nutella over in Europe, there was a chance you could find his face on a jar.
11. It has historical and humble beginnings. Nutella’s international glory has grown exponentially over the past 60 years since its humble beginnings. Mr. Pietro Ferrero owned a small pastry shop in the Italian region of Piedmont and was always creative and testing out new recipes. Since Mr. Ferrero was working in the 1940’s in Europe, his bakery business was strongly affected by the lack of cocoa due to rationing in WWII. Although low on chocolate, Mr. Ferrero was a resourceful man and tried experimenting with hazelnuts, which were plentiful at the time. Little did Mr. Ferrero know that his ability to “make due with what you have” would lead to the Nutella that we all know and love.
12. Simple: it just tastes good!
On the eve of National Nutella Day, I encourage you all to head out to your local grocery store, buy a jar of Nutella, a few spoons and indulge! The chocolatey-hazelnut spread is the perfect way to spend February 5th and make it over your Hump Day.
Photo Sources:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/caitlinmorton/15-signs-youre-addicted-to-nutella…
http://www.pinkchocolatebreak.com/chocolate-hotspot-nutelleria/?lang=en
http://www.babble.com/celebrity/are-you-addicted-to-nutella-so-are-these…