I’m a biscotti fan and don’t need a special occasion to eat it.
But National Biscotti Day on Sunday gave me a reason to buy a boatload, research and write about the treat.
Biscotti (pronounced bis-cot-ti) is a twice-baked Italian cookie or biscuit that dates back to ancient Rome. They are firm and crunchy, not too sweet and traditionally dunked in wine — another reason to love the dessert and plan a pairing in my future.
Sailors also would take the biscuits on voyages because of the food’s long shelf life, states an NPR.com article.
Today, biscotti are enjoyed by many people with coffee and tea. Rigoletto Italian Bakery & Café in Virginia Beach’s Red Mills Commons makes biscotti in-house and sells about 18 flavors, including almond, hazelnut, and fig and almond. It also has a gluten-free, pumpkin spice with white chocolate and gluten-free, white chocolate with chocolate hazelnuts called Romeo and Juliet.
I sampled them all, except for the star-crossed lovers. Here are my top five but not in any particular order.