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Italian pastry and local legends · Vicenza
Why did Vicenza name a cake after a cat?
The story behind a local cake made with Marano cornmeal, honey and grappa, and where to buy it
Vicenza’s nickname, magnagati, means “cat eaters”. Local pastry chefs answered it with a cake, combining cornmeal, honey and grappa in a recipe designed to represent their province. The joke became an edible souvenir, with its own consortium and distinctive packaging.
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Know before you go
Choose a pastry shop in the part of Vicenza you are visiting, and check availability before travelling. For a cake to take home, ask about ordering, package size and storage.
Why is the cake called La Gata?
La Gata takes its name from Vicenza’s nickname, magnagati, meaning “cat eaters”. The cake’s creators made a joke of the expression with the slogan I vicentini magna La Gata, “the people of Vicenza eat La Gata”. The origins of the nickname belong to local folklore. The consortium recounts competing explanations involving food shortages and cats brought into the city to control rats. For visitors interested in the food legends of Europe, the cake offers a particularly Vicentine encounter: local humour, a recognisable recipe and pastry shops where you can buy the result.
A local cake created for Vicenza
La Gata was developed by local pastry chefs working within Vicenza’s artisans’ association. A contemporary announcement records its public debut for Christmas 2006, while the consortium identifies seven pastry chefs behind the project. They wanted a cake that could represent Vicenza and travel home with visitors. The original launch required participating pastry shops to follow the agreed recipe and sell it in its dedicated packaging.
What is La Gata made with?
The consortium lists wheat flour and Marano cornmeal, grappa, butter, milk and honey from the Vicenza area, with almond flour and chocolate drops. Marano cornmeal comes from a maize variety associated with Marano Vicentino, a town in the province. Grappa is the Italian spirit distilled from grape pomace. Together, these ingredients give baking enthusiasts a reason to look beyond the name and examine the local products behind the cake. Pasticceria Cortese’s published description also lists cacao and candied orange paste. Ask the producer for the ingredients in the cake you are buying, particularly if you want to compare versions or check dietary requirements.
Where can you buy La Gata in Vicenza?
In the city: Pasticceria Gambarato
Contrà Porta Padova 105, Vicenza
Phone: +39 0444 515135
Gambarato is listed among the producers on the official La Gata website. ViArt, Vicenza’s artisan project, also documents its preparation of the cake according to the official production rules. This is a city address for visitors who want to include local pastry in a day exploring Vicenza.
In the mountains: Pasticceria Cortese
Piazza San Marco 24, Conco, Lusiana Conco, Vicenza
Phone: +39 0424 700029
Cortese includes La Gata in its published selection of packaged cakes, with a description of the cornmeal, honey, grappa, cacao, candied orange and almonds.
In Schio: Pasticceria Dolci Pensieri
Via SS. Trinità 85, Schio, Vicenza
Phone: +39 0445 520016
Listed on the official La Gata producer directory. Contact the shop to check availability before making a special trip.
In Arzignano: Pasticceria Davenicio
Via Pagani 29, Arzignano, Vicenza
Phone: +39 0444 670163
Davenicio is also listed in the official producer directory. Ask about the cake’s availability and ordering arrangements.
A food souvenir from Vicenza
La Gata was conceived as a cake visitors could take home. Its packaging includes images and descriptions of landmarks in Vicenza and the surrounding province, extending the local story beyond the recipe.
For a food souvenir from northern Italy, it offers a direct connection with the place where you bought it. Check the best before date and storage instructions on your particular box before travelling.