La sfogliata o torta degli ebrei
Curiosa la storia, ormai diventata leggenda, legata alla diffusione di questo piatto molto particolare, al di fuori dalle mura del ghetto finalese
The Sfogliata is a soft mille-feuille containing cheese typical of Finale Emilia. Finale Emilia historically was a crossroads of markets due to its proximity to rivers and the border, whose origin is shrouded in legend, this detail is an import part of the Sfogliata's origin.
The Sfogliata is said to have been invented by an Israelite who converted to Christianity and, to take revenge for the treatment he received in the ghetto, created a dish that was as tasty as it was inaccessible to Jews due to the presence of pork lard in the dough, hence its second name “torta degli ebrei” (Jewish cake).
It is considered typically a winter dish and it is celebrated and enjoyed on December 8 with the “sagra della Sfogliata” (Sfogliata Fair).