Una Favola di Mortadella: thirty years of italian flavor
The book published by Gruppo Editoriale tells the story of the Palmieri family and the legend of Mortadella, which has conquered Italy and the world
Una Favola di Mortadella, a book recounting the thirty-year history of Favola, one of the most iconic products of contemporary Italian charcuterie, was presented at Taste. The book intertwines memory, enterprise, and gastronomic culture, demonstrating how tradition, when authentic, is always the result of successful innovation.
Published by Gruppo Editoriale and edited by journalist and writer Davide Paolini, the book traces the birth of Favola, starting with the intuition that led the Palmieri family to patent a mortadella in 1996 that was destined to change the perception of a popular product, elevating it to a symbol of high quality. The bond between Paolini and Favola dates back to 2002, when an article in the A me mi piace column of Il Sole 24 Ore brought its value to the attention of a wider audience, leading to international recognition with the first edition of Taste Firenze, an event created by Paolini himself.
Una Favola di MortadellaIt is no coincidence that the book was presented at Taste, on Saturday, February 7, at the Teatro del Sale, as part of the Fuori di Taste calendar, during the Favola & Champagne event. The title recalls the almost revolutionary act with which Paolini, years ago, broke with the canons of traditional pairing, proposing combinations that were unheard of at the time, such as mortadella and champagne, oysters and Lambrusco: a change of perspective that helped to rewrite the language of contemporary taste.
Una Favola di Mortadella traces the history of four generations of the Palmieri family, from the small shop and workshop opened by great-grandfather Emilio in Modena, through the move to San Prospero and the creation of the large factory built by his son Carlo, to the intuition that gave rise to Favola. A journey continued over the years by Massimo, Marcello, and Michele, now joined by Francesco and Margherita Palmieri, in a continuous dialogue between past and future.
Mortadella Favola (@Gruppo Editoriale - ph. Dario Garofalo)Through texts and unpublished images by photographer Dario Garofalo, the book reveals what makes Favola unique: the rigorous selection of raw materials, the essential recipe preserved over time, the hand-sewn casing made from pork rind—a true art of mortadella production—and the slow cooking in ancient stone ovens. A story that does not shy away from the most painful chapter, that of the 2012 earthquake that struck Emilia, but which becomes a testament to resilience and solidarity, culminating in the rebirth of the company and the inauguration of the new factory just 435 days after the earthquake.
Today, Favola continues to be offered in its classic version and in a version with Sicilian pistachios, without ever denying its roots. A Favola di Mortadella is much more than a book about a product: it is the story of a territory, a family, and an idea that has stood the test of time, demonstrating that the most authentic innovation always stems from a deep respect for what came before.
The book is available in the best bookstores in Italy, on the website www.gruppoeditoriale.com, and in major online bookshops.