Breadsticks Near You

Are Breadsticks a Snack?

While the main course often gets the spotlight, we all know that appetizers and desserts have a lot to offer, too.

We're not always that hungry, and even if we are, snacks can be a great way to get ourselves started. Not to mention, all the movie and game nights when finger foods are pretty much a must.

What we also know is that a lot of delicious food comes from Italy, and appetizers are no exception.

Hence, for today, we have for you one of the tastiest snacks out there - breadsticks!

Breadsticks are a type of bread that usually has the size of a pencil. They're hard-baked and crispy, though in America restaurants often make them soft.

In the US, you would also expect to get them with toppings such as cheese, garlic, and butter. Or even sugar and cinnamon when they're served as a dessert. The size may also vary and be larger than a pencil.

Alternative names for this appetizer are grissini or grissino, and dipping sticks.

The cooking process includes making the dough with flour, water, and yeast, and then shaping it into the desired form. From there, the only thing left is to bake it and viola - the breadsticks are ready to be served.

You can enjoy this snack on its own, say with a pizza sauce on the side, or combine it with another dish. It goes well with pretty much anything - from pasta and salads to prosciutto and Parmesan cheese.

Where Did Breadsticks Originate From?

As mentioned earlier, breadsticks come from Italy. A popular belief is that they were invented in Piedmont by Antonio Brunero. This was around the seventeenth century.

The story goes that Antonio, a cook from Turin, baked some breadsticks for Duke Victor Amadeus II. This was upon a request from the Duke's physician.

See, the duke had digestive troubles since he was a kid, and this was estimated to be due to a bad diet. As a consequence of being malnourished, the duke wasn't at his full strength.

But, once his physician told his mother to bake him quality bread, the duke's health eventually got better. And that's why Antonio was asked to make such bread for him.

Oh, and the duke did go on to become a king.

Still, there are some further theories about the origin of this snack.

One mentions that the name grissini comes from the word "grissia" which referred to loaves of bread. And due to inflation in the 1300s, bakers had to make the bread much smaller. This was to a such degree, that people would refer to it as "grissino" which is a diminutive form.

Moreover, a Florentine abbot who traveled to Turin in 1643 described a long and thin bread.

How Many Calories in a Single Breadstick?

The number of calories slightly varies depending on the type of breadstick.

For a soft version, there are around 113 calories in a single medium-sized breadstick. This includes 2.76g of total fat, 142mg of sodium, 18g of total carbohydrates, and 3.15g of protein.

There's also 1.17mg of iron, 34mg of potassium, and 11mg of calcium.

As for a hard breadstick, the amount of calories for a medium-sized one is around 41.

Where Can I Find Breadsticks Near Me?

For those of you in Chicago, we suggest heading to Rosati's Pizza on N Broadway. Or you can also order them for takeout or delivery via Slice, and even get 10% off.

And if you're in Las Vegas, then Alexander's Pizza is the right place for getting some delicious breadsticks. Located on Broadbent Blvd, they're open 7 days a week. You can give them a visit or order for pickup or delivery through the Slice app.