Farini De.Co potato gnocchi

The potato has been cultivated in the upper Nure valley for at least three centuries, and it has been an important food, especially for the poorer clases.

Although today it may seem strange, the potato, introduced into Europe by the Conquistadores returning from America, was for long considered a purely ornamental plant. It only started to be used as a food from the 18th century, after episodes of famine and epidemics. It was then that it became the principal ingredient of gnocchi, which up until then had been made just from flour and water.

The gnocchi made using the potatoes of Farini, which have received recognition as a De.Co, are one of the best loved specialities of the peasant food from Piacenza. Served with sauce made using the mushrooms collected in the forests of the Apennines, they become a refined and delicious dish.