Tortellini
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Tortellini (plural of tortellina, derived from the Italian for cake) is a ring-shaped pasta similar to ravioli, usually stuffed with meat or, more rarely, cheese. Originally from the Italian region of Emilia, they are usually served in a sauce or soup.
Tortelloni is a larger version of ravioli, and is usually stuffed with cheese and leaf vegetables, such as spinach.
Mythology
Tortellini also represents the bellybutton of Venus, the Goddess of Love in Roman mythology (Aphrodite in Greek mythology).
As one legend goes, Venus and Jupiter were to meet one night. After Venus had checked into the inn, she waited for him on the bed. The chef found out, went to her room and peeked through the keyhole, where he saw her lying only partially covered on her back. Overcome at seeing her navel, the chef was so inspired that he created a stuffed pasta resembling her navel.
