Paesi e Sapori 2013 - Ovada (Alessandria) — travel diary by Francesca Bertha

The story

On foot, running or by motorbike, all roads lead to the good table of the hills of Ovada

After the enormous success of last year's edition, the lively gathering of taste in Piazza Martiri della Benedicta of the Pro Loco associations and Associations of the Ovada area returns even richer in participants, during which it will be possible to have a first taste of the most interesting summer festivals and fairs and to discover the many culinary attractions that the territory of the Upper Monferrato offers. On Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May 2013 the ninth edition of the food and wine showcase Paesi e Sapori will take place. During the event each of the participating Pro Loco associations and Associations will offer a typical dish, thus promoting, with the universal language of taste, the territory and the festivals that will be held in the area during the summer period.

Around 18.00 on Saturday 18 May 2012 the stands will open and visitors will be able to taste the numerous courses, accompanied by local wines, in particular Dolcetto D.O.C. and OVADA D.O.C.G. The party will, however, begin already in the afternoon, with the stalls in the historic centre of Sbancailbanco. From 21.00 the Oasi Latina orchestra will entertain the public with its musical show. The food stands will await everyone during the Sunday too, both at lunch and dinner. The Sunday programme will be kicked off by the road race Rincorri i Sapori from 10.00, followed by the MotorinOvada rally. In the afternoon there will be fun with skill games and from 17.00 you can cheer for the Misses during a fashion parade.

Ovada and the municipalities of the Ovada area are located 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 genuine 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 vegetables in bagna caoda, raw meat chopped with a knife, anchovies in green sauce, vitello tonnato, fresh mushroom salads and the ever-present cold cuts. Next, it is agnolotti that dominate among the first courses, with thin dough and a filling based on meat and, of course, borage, to be eaten with sauce or plain 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 one-dish meal and today sought after again. In 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 main courses. To these are added mixed boiled meats, game, roasts, green pies with wild herbs, stuffed cime, boiled capon with green sauce, the Piedmontese mixed fry.

All the good things you will be able to taste:

Pro Loco Battagliosi/Albareto - Fiazein (old-style focaccino) Pro Loco Belforte Monferrato - Trofie with pesto Pro Loco Carpeneto - Witches' Minestrone Pro Loco Cassinelle - Mixed roast with potatoes Pro Loco Cimaferle - Cheese focaccia Pro Loco Costa e Leonessa - Fritters and chips Pro Loco Molare - Polenta with ragu Pro Loco Montaldo Bormida - Farinata Pro Loco Morsasco - Gnocchi with tomato and 4 cheeses Pro Loco Ovada - Bar and ice creams Pro Loco Predosa - Rice with strawberries Pro Loco Santuario delle Rocche - Grilled tomino Pro Loco Trisobbio - Stuffed polenta piadine ANSPI Oratorio Silvano d'Orba - Homemade sweets ASD Cremolino - Rabbit alla cremolinese ASD Ovada In Sport - Baked lasagne ASD Tagliolese CCRT - Agnolotti A.T.

Madonna della Villa - Ostrich specialities CRO/SOMS Ovada - Broad beans and salami Insieme per Castelletto - Mixed fry Polisportiva Rocca Grimalda - Lasagne in the Peirbureira SAOMS Costa di Ovada - Fried focaccino and tripe

Side events:

MotorinOvada

During the Sunday, MotorinOvada will also take place, the 5th Rally of vintage mopeds - roller, single-speed, touring, scooter, sports and off-road, 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 Mock Gran Premio Fondo Valle 13:00 Lunch at the Paesi e Sapori stands In the afternoon: Acrobatic guides: gymkhana, slow race Prize-giving and farewells

StraOvada - Memorial Giorgio Giacobbe

Also on Sunday morning, the StraOvada - 5th Memorial Giorgio Giacobbe, also called Rincorri Sapori, will take place, a road-running initiative through the streets of the centre with a 9:30 start from Piazza Martiri della Benedicta.