Villages and Flavours: A Tasty Weekend in Ovada

The story

VILLAGES AND FLAVOURS

OVADA (Alessandria) 19-20 May 2012 Walking, running or riding, all roads lead to the good table of the hills around Ovada

After the huge success of last year's edition, the lively "gathering of taste" returns with even more participants in Piazza Martiri della Benedicta, with the Pro Loco associations and the associations of the Ovada area, during which it will be possible to get a first taste of the most interesting summer festivals and fairs and to discover the many culinary attractions the territory of Upper Monferrato offers.

On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 May 2012 the eighth edition of the food and wine event Villages and Flavours will take place. During the event each of the participating Pro Loco associations and associations will offer a typical dish, thus promoting, through the universal language of taste, the territory and the festivals that will be held in the zone during the summer period.

At 19.00 on Saturday 19 May 2012 the stands will open and visitors will be able to taste the many courses, accompanied by local wines, in particular Dolcetto D.O.C. and OVADA D.O.C.G. From 21.00 the Romina orchestra will entertain the public with its musical show.

The food stands will be waiting for everyone also during the day on Sunday.

Ovada and the municipalities of the Ovada area lie in a singular zone, on the border between Liguria and Piedmont. This geographical and historical characteristic of the area is also reflected in its culinary traditions, which are a true union between these two wonderful lands. The specialities of Monferrato thus combine with the delicious dishes of Ligurian peasant cooking, such as farinata. Among the starters of the area the most important are bagna caoda vegetables, hand-chopped raw meat, anchovies in green sauce, vitello tonnato, fresh mushroom salads and the ever-present cured meats. Next, agnolotti reign supreme among the first courses, made with thin pasta and filled with meat and, of course, borage, to be eaten with sauce or "white" in a steaming cup of Dolcetto d'Ovada wine.

Other typical dishes of the Ovada area are vegetable ravioli, tajarin with mushrooms, the peirbureira of Rocca Grimalda, polenta dressed in various ways, once a single dish and today sought after again. During the Easter period the andarini are unmissable, tiny flour gnocchi to be eaten in broth.

In season, mushrooms prepared and cooked in various ways dominate the second courses. To these are added mixed boiled meats, game, roasts, green pies with wild herbs, stuffed chard, boiled capon with green sauce, and the Piedmontese mixed fry.

Side events:

MotorinOvada

During the day on Sunday MotorinOvada will also take place, the 4th Rally of vintage mopeds - roller, single-speed, touring, scooter, sports and off-road models registered before 1990.

Programme:

9:00 registration opens

11:00 departure for a sightseeing tour 11:30 aperitif stop at S.A.O.M.S. of Costa di Ovada 12:15 Gran Premio Fondo Valle 13:00 Lunch at the "Villages and Flavours" stands 14:00 Acrobatic guides: gymkhana, slow race 15:30 Awards and farewells

StraOvada - Memorial Giorgio Giacobbe

Also on Sunday morning the StraOvada - 5th Memorial Giorgio Giacobbe will be held, also called "Rincorri Sapori", a running event through the streets of the centre starting at 9:30 from Piazza Martiri della Benedicta.