Gay odin
entry Dec. 2011, updated Mar. 2021
Gay Odin
The first time I saw the 1920s delivery van driving around Naples with the company name "Gay Odin" on the side, I was, of course, taken with the name. Assuming the now anachronistic and original meaning of "gay" and assuming the other element to refer to the Norse God of wisdom, poetry, war and agriculture, I came up with "Happy Wotan" (another form of the designate in Germanic mythology). "What a strange name for a company!" sez I. As it turns out, that bit of amateur word sleuthing did beautiful well in a recent contest for Fallacious Etymologies. (I enter a lot of such contests and do well most of the time!)
The name of the company comes simply from the marriage of Isidoro Odin and Onorina Gay. Mr. Wotan was originally from Alba in Piedmont, way up north. He moved to Naples around 1900, opened a chocolate shop, did very well and, in 1922, with his wife opened
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Writing my post about pizza yesterday inevitably got me thinking about Naples – where pizza was created and where you’ll find the leading pizza in the world. Although, of course, there’s always argument about which is the ‘best’. Just as you might argue about whether Caffe Sant’Eustachio or Caffe Tazza d’Oro serve the best coffee […]
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Passion, dedication and tradition come together in a distinct chocolate with a distinct and full-bodied flavour. This is Gay Odin , official Sponsor of Bellavita and producer of artisan chocolate since 1922.
At the end of the 19th century, founder and maître chocolatier Isidoro Odin, embarked on a journey from Alba (a small town in the Northern region of Piedmont, famous for its long-standing chocolate tradition) to Naples, bringing with him all the skills and experience accrued through the years. It’s a match made in heaven. Isidoro draws inspiration from the aromas and new flavours of the city and, in return, the Neapolitan bourgeoisie falls in love with his chocolate creations. It’s just a matter of moment before the maître chocolatier opens the Gay Odin factory, where he keeps on creating adorable delicacies for the city of Naples and beyond.
From the first boutique in Naples, to the stores in Rome and Milan, Gay Odin has become a symbol of Neapolitan excellence in Italy and in the society. A genuine desire for high quality ingredients and the desire to experiment with new flavours are the founding values of the famous Neapolitan trademark. The cocoa blends s