It’s September, and, as usual at this time of year, our aia (stone patio) is completely covered with hazelnuts that have fallen from the noccioli (hazelnut trees).

Beautiful plump tasty nocciole (hazelnuts), just perfect for making a delicious chocolate spread … if you’re not Geoff, who is allergic to them! The mouthwatering thought of home made Nutella brings back a nice memory of my father.

Mio padre, un vero gentiluomo all’antica! Photo by Geoff

Qualche anno fa la mia amica Rita per Natale mi regalò un vasetto di Nutella fatta in casa. Siccome mio papà era allergico alle uova, ma golosissimo di dolci, c’era sempre il problema di cosa dargli come dolce di Natale, per cui appena ebbi la crema di cioccolata di Rita pensai subito che era perfetta per l’occasione.

Some years ago, my friend Rita gave me a jar of home made Nutella for Christmas. As my dad was allergic to eggs, but had a sweet tooth, it was always a problem knowing what to give him for dessert at Christmas, so as soon as I got Rita’s chocolate cream I realised straight away that it would be perfect for the occasion.

Rita aveva conosciuto mio papà qualche settimana prima di Natale, ed era rimasta molto colpita dai suoi modi educati, in particolare quando nell’accompagnarla alla porta le aveva fatto l’inchino. “Un vero gentiluomo all’antica!” lo aveva definito. Complimento che fece molto piacere a papà quando glielo riferii.

Rita had met my father some weeks before Christmas and was struck by his polite manners, especially when, accompanying her to the door, he had bowed to her. She described him as “A true old fashioned gentleman!” A compliment that really pleased my father when I mentioned it to him.

Quando alla fine del pranzo di Natale tirai fuori la Nutella e la feci assaggiare a mio padre, rimase molto soddisfatto. “Buona, vero?” gli chiesi io. “Mmm!!!” fece papà tutto preso dalla Nutella. “L’ha fatta la mia amica Rita, te la ricordi? Quella che ha detto che sei un vero gentiluomo” gli spiegai. “Mmm” fece ancora papà, occupato a tagliare il pane in quadratini e a spalmarli di crema di cioccolata.

When at the end of our Christmas meal, I got the Nutella out and let my father try it, he was really pleased. “Good eh?” I asked him. “Mmmm!!!” said dad, really taken with the Nutella. “My friend Rita made it, do you remember her? That lady who said you were a true gentleman” I explained to him. “Mmm” repeated my dad, busy cutting the bread into little squares and spreading them with chocolate cream.

Dopo un po’ lo fermai: “Basta papà! Se ne mangi troppa ti fa male!”. Papà rimise il tappo a malincuore, e dopo aver contemplato il vasetto per qualche istante, con un sorriso malizioso mi disse : “Dì alla tua amica che se mi fa un vasetto di Nutella tutto per me … le faccio il baciamano!”. Rita fu molto contenta dell’offerta: “Per un baciamano glielo faccio di sicuro un barattolo di Nutella!” rispose.

After a while I stopped him: “That’s enough dad! If you eat too much you’ll make yourself ill!”. Dad sadly put the lid back on and, having contemplated the jar for a few moments, said to me with a crafty smile: “Tell your friend that if she makes a jar of Nutella just for me … I’ll kiss her hand!”. Rita was really pleased with the offer: “For a hand kiss I’ll certainly make him a jar of Nutella!” she replied.

E così fu che mio padre ebbe il suo barattolo di crema di cioccolata tutto per sé, e Rita ebbe il suo baciamano!

And so it was that my father had a jar of chocolate cream all to himself, and Rita had her kiss on the hand!