History and Sweetness: Baci di Alassio, Treasure of the Ligurian Riviera
A journey back in time to discover a small, delicious secret of the Ligurian Riviera: the Baci di Alassio
A little bit of history
Imagine the Belle Époque, the early 1900s. Alassio, with its elegant seaside promenade and lively atmosphere, was a favorite destination for European nobility and the bourgeoisie.
It was precisely in this context of ferment and refinement that the Baci di Alassio were born Baci di Alassio a small masterpiece of pastry destined to conquer everyone’s palates.
Their creation is shrouded in a sweet legend, intertwined with a love story.
It is said that Ernest Hemingway, during one of his stays at the Grand Hotel Alassio, was so fascinated by the beauty of a young local girl named Lina that he inspired the local pastry chef Rinaldo Balzola to create a dessert in her honor.
These sweet “kisses” were meant to encapsulate the delicacy and passion of that budding feeling. Balzola, with his mastery, created two fragrant toasted hazelnut wafers joined by a rich and velvety dark chocolate cream.
The oval shape, reminiscent of two lips about to exchange a kiss, became the seal of this small, delicious treasure.
But the story doesn’t end here. Another version, more pragmatic but no less fascinating, attributes the invention of the Baci di Alassio to the baker Pasquale Balzola, Rinaldo’s uncle, around 1910. It is said that Pasquale was looking for a way to make the best use of the scraps from the Tonda Gentile hazelnuts of Gavi, a local excellence. By combining hazelnut flour with sugar, eggs, and a chocolate heart, he created a simple but incredibly tasty biscuit.
The Baci di Alassio I Baci di Alassio have become a symbol of the city, a delicious souvenir to take away, and a small pleasure to enjoy at any time. Their recipe, jealously guarded by local pastry shops, continues to delight generations of gourmets with their unmistakable fragrance and the perfect balance between the crunchiness of the hazelnuts and the creaminess of the chocolate.
Pasticceria Milano of Gavirate deeply admires the history and tradition behind these small masterpieces. Although they are not our local specialty, we appreciate the craftsmanship and passion that drive their creation.
We hope this little story has made you want to discover or rediscover the Baci di Alassio, a bite of history and sweetness that smells of the Ligurian Riviera.