Do you have Turinese breadsticks?
gris-SI-ni — three syllables, double 's'. Stress on second syllable.
In Piedmont or a specialty bakery when looking for the authentic hand-rolled Turinese breadstick.
Grissini torinesi are hand-rolled thin breadsticks from Turin — different from the pre-packaged commercial grissini found in restaurants. They are irregular, crispy throughout, and have a distinctive nutty flavour. The name comes from the Piedmontese 'ghërsin'.
Grissini fatti a mano o macchina?
Handmade or machine-made breadsticks?
Handmade ('fatti a mano') grissini are thicker and more irregular — the authentic type
Al sesamo o al rosmarino?
With sesame or rosemary?
Flavoured grissini are common — sesame and rosemary are the most popular variations
Avete i rubatà?
Do you have rubatà?
'Rubatà' are ultra-thin, extra-crispy Piemontese breadsticks — a regional specialty
Grissini were allegedly invented in Turin in 1679 by a court baker who needed to make bread that the young Duke of Savoy (afflicted by digestive problems) could eat. The extremely thin, crispy sticks proved easier to digest than regular bread. Napoleon called them 'little sticks from Turin' and had them imported regularly.