ARIES
Aries–the first sign of the zodiac (fitting as they love to be number one!)–find their match in CARASAU, a bread whose name derives from Sardinian for “toasted”. This traditional flatbread from Italy’s second largest island is also known as carta da musica (sheet music), referring to its large shape and paper-thin width. It’s said that the dough should be so thin before cooking that a sheet of music can be read through it. Reactive Aries’ skin may just be as thin, and it doesn’t take much to throw them into a state of ecstasy or anger. Though they may come across as tough cookies, these fire signs are actually surprisingly delicate and have a fragile side like that of carasau. That said, they’re also very resilient, as is the bread. The ancient recipe was designed for shepherds who spent months away from home with their flocks; if kept dry, their carasau could even last up to a year. And, thanks to healthy doses of stamina, passion, and courage, these rams know a thing or two about perseverance!
Carasau
TAURUS
These earth signs are none other than cozy CIABATTA, a hole-y Italian white bread from Veneto whose name translates to “slipper” for its long, soft shape. Tauruses are famed luxury lovers, and self-care is the name of their game; their dream day would be spent lounging around in their house slippers (to be taken off exclusively for a bubble bath). Ciabatta bread was first created in 1982 by Arnaldo Cavallari, who named it ciabatta polesana after his home region of Polesine. By 1999, Cavallari’s company, Molini Adriesi, had licensed the recipe to bakers in 11 countries; Italian bakers, including Cavallari, were worried about the rising popularity of sandwiches made with French baguettes. With their businesses threatened, they developed an Italian alternative suitable for making panini–a very Taurean response. These bulls will never back away from a challenge. They’re in it to win it, and, when it comes to competition, they’re absolutely bull-headed about winning. These stubborn signs usually do–and, dare we say, so did ciabatta?
Ciabatta
GEMINI
Not all focaccias are created equal, but Geminis are the greatest version of them all: FOCACCIA GENOVESE (here are eight places in Genova to try the superlative stuff!). Focaccia from this port city should have a crunchy, salty outside and soft, creamy caverns of oil and dough on the inside–it’s a testament to the power of contrasts… that and these air signs. Represented by the twins, Geminis have a dual nature, manifested in their ability to adapt to different social situations, moods, and hobbies. Geminis can easily switch from being serious and thoughtful to being light-hearted and playful, just as focaccia can hold its own in the fanciest of restaurants and the greasiest of street food joints. Naturally curious Geminis are drawn to variety and often have many different interests–as many as focaccia has toppings. (Go to Genova, and you’ll find the carb loaded with everything under the sun, from sweet, caramelized onions to luscious pesto to astringent olives.) In recent years, Geminis have (unfairly) gotten a bit of a bad rap. But it’s really worth giving them a chance, just like this Genovese breakfast specialty: focaccia dipped in a cappuccino. Trust us, this coffee-carb combo and this air sign really do grow on you.
Focaccia Genovese
CANCER
We can’t think of a more nurturing sign than a Cancer, and we can’t think of a more nurturing bread than a BRIOCHE COL TUPPO. This fluffy round bread with a little chignon (“tuppo” in Sicilian refers to this hairstyle, which was historically popular among the island’s women) is most often served in Sicily alongside granita for breakfast (what could be more Cancer core than having something so sweet for breakfast?). It’s believed that the French brioche à tête arrived on Italy’s largest island at the beginning of 19th century, during the Napoleonic wars, and was then adapted and enhanced by Sicilian tradition. Although it was then often prepared with lard, which was cheaper, today brioche col tuppo is enriched with butter and egg–a rich and soft dough that mirrors the emotional attitude of Cancer. These water signs are sensitive and feel things profoundly. Highly empathetic, they value deep emotional connections, which in turn makes these crabs quite protective–well symbolized by the tuppo, the brioche’s answer to the Cancer shell, covering and safeguarding the soft, tender bread beneath.
Brioche col tuppo
LEO
These lions have a big presence, and so does PANE DI ALTAMURA–literally. These large loaves (one can reach 7 kg) are known for their height and puffed-up shape (as puffed-up as a Leo’s ego). From the eponymous part of Puglia, the official Pane di Altamura has earned a PDO and is the only bread in Europe to have achieved this status. Leos too feed off of exceptionalism: they don’t just crave it, they demand it. And, their self-belief isn’t that far from reality: they’re natural born leaders with a hearty sprinkling of charisma and enthusiasm. “Altamura bread, by far the best bread to be had,” Horace wrote of pane di Altamura. Understandably, the people of Altamura are as proud as a Leo of their carby export (and once even ran a McDonald’s out of town)–a feeling that has lasted for centuries. The Altamura Cathedral, built in 1232–1254 by Frederick II of Swabia, features, among its gilded interiors, pane di Altamura as the bread of choice for its version of “The Last Supper”–now that’s the type of recognition and praise that Leos expect.
Pane di Altamura; Photo by Shabnam Ferdowsi
VIRGO
These earth signs are practical and appreciate simplicity: what better than PIZZA BIANCA? (A perfect match for the Virgoan function-over-form mindset.) A staple of the Italian carb canon, pizza bianca, which hails from Rome, is an easy, focaccia-like bread that’s often filled with meats and cheeses for a no-frills lunch. Just like a Virgo, its dependability is never–ever!–questioned. As the sixth sign, Virgos are the backbone of the zodiac, and pizza bianca is an absolute mainstay of Roman street food. It’s said that the bread was created at the hands of bakers who concocted a simple dough that was baked directly with a shovel. Initially, slaves, and later workers and peasants, would stuff this economical food with figs. Then and now, the pizza bianca isn’t flashy; it’s a quiet favorite that doesn’t need extravagant toppings. Virgos too are often understated, forgoing the spotlight to work behind the scenes and let their actions speak for themselves. Just don’t forget to give both Virgo and pizza bianca the appreciation they deserve!
Pizza Bianca
LIBRA
For the indecisive queens of the zodiac, the bread that can be filled with anything under the sun: PIADINA. This flatbread from Romagna is traditionally cooked on a round terracotta slab, called a “teglia“, though today you’ll find them griddled on metal plates and slung from street food spots. They’re so beloved that they’ve gone beyond their home region’s borders to become popular across the entire country–and that feels very Libra to us. These air signs are the biggest butterflies of the zodiac, and their sociable and easygoing nature means they get along with just about anyone; you’ll often find them throwing parties with hundreds of their “closest friends”. Libras are pros at mirroring the people around them and adapting to all sorts of new environments, as is the piadina. We can’t think of a single meat or cheese that wouldn’t go well with the bread–as people pleasing as a Libra. (In the spirit of this air sign’s non-confrontational nature, we’ll only briefly mention the piadina’s longtime competition with crescia, a similar flatbread from Romagna’s neighbor Marche.)
Piadina
SCORPIO
SCHIACCIATA, an intense bread for an intense sign. Schiacciata is Tuscany’s chewier, flatter take on Liguria’s focaccia. While the dough is quite similar, schiacciata has a shorter rising time and is “smashed” (what schiacciata translates to) rather than folded before baking. Scorpios crackle with determination, and when there’s something they want, they won’t hold back, “smashing” their opponents if needed to achieve their goals. These water signs can be quite guarded and aren’t afraid to use their stingers to ward off the untrustworthy. Schiacciata too, with its sharp, crunchy edges, is harder to rip or bite into than many other types of bread. But inside is a soft, soft dough (and hopefully some fillings like pecorino and prosciutto), just as a Scorpio’s heart is one of the most giving out there. In the end, they’re one of the most loyal signs, and schiacciata one of our trusted lunchtime go-tos. (Here’s our handy guide to the best panini in Florence, for those of you wondering.)
Schiacciata
SAGITTARIUS
These sharp-tongued fire signs are FRISELLA, rustic, durum wheat crackers double baked to a jaw-breaking consistency that are popular in Puglia and Calabria. To the uninitiated, they may just seem like rounds of dry, stale bread (and your teeth would agree)–just like Sagittariuses, who can be off putting at first impression. These archers’ bluntness can be a bit hard to swallow (as can an improperly prepared frisella); theirs is brutal honesty at its most brutal. But when you know how to treat them, they turn out to be real soft sweethearts who have your back no matter what. The same is true of frisella. To make these shelf-stable wonders palatable, locals submerge them in seawater for a few seconds before rubbing a clove of garlic on them, and topping with a mixture of chopped tomatoes, onions, chilis, olive oil, and salt. The bruschetta-like preparation is a crowd pleaser at aperitivo or merenda–which reminds us of Sagittarius, who, given the right circumstances, can talk to anyone at a party with boundless enthusiasm and magnanimity.
Frisella
CAPRICORN
These straight-laced signs get the straightest of breads: GRISSINI. These breadsticks from Turin are long, thin, crispy, and often come textured with cornmeal. Grissini were invented in the late 17th century to address the digestive issues of young Duke Vittorio Amedeo II of Savoy (relatable!). The court doctor, Don Baldo di Lanzo, tasked Turin-based baker Antonio Brunero with creating a digestible food for the duke. The baker adapted dough used for ghersa, a typical elongated bread from the area, stretching it into lengthy strips that, once baked, went down easily–a solution worthy of a Capricorn. These pioneering earth signs are pros at making the best use of available resources, just like baker Brunero. Grissini became immensely popular (and quickly), spreading throughout all of Italy and beyond. (Notably, Napoleon Bonaparte was a fan and established a stagecoach service between Turin and Paris to regularly receive what he called “les petits batons de Turin” or “little sticks of Turin.”) And though Capricorns are primarily known for their practicality and strategic thinking, they also have a creative side that ensures their ideas are not just implementable, but beloved.
Grissini
AQUARIUS
COPPIA FERRARESE, a quirky bread for a quirky sign. Although the recipe–which calls for a sourdough starter, flour, lard, olive oil, salt, and malt–is similar to many basic bread recipes, the shape of coppie ferraresi is truly unique, a core value of this air sign. Original and creative, these water bearers highly value their intellectual freedom and want to think for themselves. Innovation is in their wheelhouse, and this bread certainly breaks the glass ceiling when it comes to form: each loaf is twisted and stretched by hand into the spidery shape of an “X.” The term “coppia”, meaning “couple” or “pair”, refers to the two twisted pieces of dough pinched together at the bread’s midpoint; as this bread does, the Aquarius mind can run circles around its opponents! Several stories explain its distinctive shape, the most popular being that it was inspired by the curly hair of Lucrezia Borgia, who married Alfonso D’Este, the Duke of Ferrara’s son, in 1501. Aquarians are famed for being extremists–it’s all or nothing for them–and going so far as to design a bread after a girl’s hair really does channel this air sign’s energy.
Coppia Ferrarese
PISCES
Last, but certainly not least, Pisces are ROSETTA, the hollowed-out white bread roll perfect for a panino. For us Italians, rosettas really hit our nostalgia bones, as they were the bread of choice for sandwiches to be taken to the beach or picked up from the forno for a simple post-school merenda. Pisces are dreamers and often view the world through a lens of idealism. Their rich imagination means that they romanticize the past the way Italians romanticize this bread… which, if we’re being honest, really isn’t all that great. Pisces easily fall prey to nostalgia–for them, it’s the ~idea of things, and the idea of the rosetta really is greater than its reality. It’s also fitting that these bread rolls look like clouds, because Pisces always have their heads in them. Utopian outlooks on life are hallmarks of these water signs, and Pisces often see the world through rose(tta)-colored glasses. Those in Bergamo, however, would say the bread looks more like a star than a cloud, hence their regional name of “stellina”–a reference that’s just as perfect for these starry-eyed Pisces.
Rosetta
