Lady Finger (cookie)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lady Fingers (called Savoiardi in Italian, meaning "from Savoy") are light, sweet, sponge cakes roughly shaped like a rather large, fat finger. They are not to be confused with the Lady's Finger, another name for the vegetable okra. Today, their most common usage is in tiramisu, where they are soaked with strong espresso and topped with sweetened mascarpone cream.
They originated in the late 15th century at the court of the Duchy of Savoy, and were created to mark the occasion of a visit of the King of France.
Later they were given the name Savoiardi and recognised as an "official" court cookie. They were particularly appreciated by the young members of the court and offered to visitors as a symbol of the local cuisine.
[edit] External links
(This Italian site, realized with contributions from the universities of Florence and Siena, is a good reference.)
