Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Nutty for nutella

The Italian chocolate and hazelnut spread has its devoted fans.

Do a Google search for "Nutella," the Italian hazelnut-chocolate spread that comes in a squat jar like peanut butter and is often found right next to it in grocery aisles, and you'll get about 5 million results.

Which is about twice what you get when you Google "chocolate chip cookies" -- and several times as many as the phrase "Valentine's Day chocolates."
You might want to remember that this weekend.

Because Nutella isn't just junk food with a European pedigree. It can be an obsession, a habit, even a cult.
If you think this is foodie hyperbole, you're just not among the initiated.