Happy Italian Father’s Day !

Today in Italy it is Father’s Day, San Giuseppe (Saint Joseph). commemorating an older father whom Italy celebrates with various wonderful San Giuseppe pastries enjoyed all across the country.

Even with COVID-19, the feast must go on, and pastry stores in the many Italian regions that are “red” (in full lockdown) offer take-out and often delivery service of pastries.

Thank goodness.

Because what is San Giuseppe without its bignè, or zeppole, or fritelle di riso, or sfincione or raviole, or ravioli fritti ?

Everyone in Italy thinks that their region or their city makes them best — of course, they are all right — and fillings vary to include ricotta and orange peel; pastry cream; orange peel flavored rice pudding.

Resourceful Italians, of course, make their own.

I am of course convinced that the Roman ones are best.  As a little girl I was told this by my father — Papa’ — and surely fathers must be experts on the pastries of Saint Joseph’s Day?

Here is me with Papa’, in Rome, during one of the major winter snowstorms that Rome used once to have.

This early spring blog,  which celebrates the glorious bignè di San Giuseppe  — is dedicated to him.  And to fathers everywhere, including my grandfather Algernon Ashburner Osborne, who brought our family to Italy in 1919.

… and my husband Robert, who here samples bignè di San Giuseppe with our daughter Isabel, then seven.

Buona Festa del Papa’ !