The true story of codfish – baccalà mantecato
Back in 1432, Venice’s most iconic dish – baccalà mantecato – came into being, not due to a recipe, an enterprising merchant, or a brilliant chef, but as a result of a shipping accident in the stormy waters of the North Atlantic, beyond the Polar Circle.
So, in May 1432, the survivors set sail from Rest Island. As a final gift, the local fishermen provided them with 60 dried codfish.
Norwegian fishermen, who were fishing for cod at that time, found the 16 surviving sailors and cared for them for around 100 days until spring. And this unexpected act of kindness changed not only the lives of the survivors, but also the course of Italian culinary history.
In October of that year, Quirini returned to Venice with a diary that included one of the first descriptions of the Lofoten archipelago and its dried fish. Since then, codfish has become a most important dishes of Venetian cuisine, gradually spreading throughout Italy under various names: baccalà mantecato, baccalà alla vicentina, baccalà panato and many others.
And because of that shipping disaster, was born a miracle which we all can enjoy today. If it were not for Captain Querini, who found himself among the ice floes of Norway in 1432, Venice might not have its iconic dish.
Come to explore our baccalà dishes in Carinthia club, Punta San Giuliano, 1, Venezia-Mestre!
Explore the local Venitian food made with our love!
See you in Carinthia club!