Paesi e Sapori

The story

OVADA (Alessandria) 31 May – 1 June 2014

Walking or by motorbike, all roads lead

to the good table of the Ovada hills

After the enormous success of past editions, the lively "gathering of taste" returns to Piazza Martiri della Benedicta, organised by 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 that the territory of Alto Monferrato offers.

On Saturday 31 May and Sunday 1 June 2014 the tenth edition of the food and wine event 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.

At around 18.00 on Saturday 31 May 2014 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 "Sbanca il Banco". From 21.00 Cerot and the Soul T Band will entertain the public with their musical show.

The food stands will await everyone also during the day on Sunday, both at lunch and dinner. Since this year the event has been postponed and the day after the closing evening is also a holiday (Monday 2 June), it will be possible to make the most of the Sunday evening too.

Kicking off the Sunday programme will be the "MotorinOvada" rally. The food stands will reopen at 12.00 for lunch and at 18.00 for dinner. In the afternoon "Sbanca il Banco" will continue in the historic centre, and from 21.00 the fun will be guaranteed thanks to the music and dance programme "Oasi Latina".

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 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 the vegetables in bagna caoda, the raw meat chopped with a knife, the anchovies in green sauce, the vitello tonnato, the salads of fresh mushrooms and the ever-present cured meats.

Next, agnolotti reign supreme among the first courses, made with a thin sheet of pasta and a filling based on 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 the 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, very small flour gnocchi to be eaten in broth. In season, mushrooms prepared and cooked in various ways dominate the second courses. To these are added the mixed boiled meats, game, roasts, the green pies with wild herbs, stuffed cime, the boiled capon with green sauce, and the mixed fried food alla piemontese.

All the delicacies that can be tasted:

Pro Loco Battagliosi/Albareto – Fiazein (old-style focaccino) Pro Loco Carpeneto – Salamini al Dolcetto Pro Loco Cassinelle – Mixed roast with potatoes Pro Loco Cimaferle – Cheese focaccia Pro Loco Costa e Leonessa – Fritters and fried potatoes Pro Loco Montaldo Bormida – Farinata Pro Loco Ovada – Bar and ice creams Pro Loco Santuario delle Rocche – Griddled tomino with speck Pro Loco Trisobbio – Stuffed polenta flatbreads ANSPI Oratorio Silvano d'Orba – Homemade desserts ASD Ovada In Sport – Baked lasagne ASD Tagliolese CCRT – Agnolotti Croce Verde Ovadese Onlus - Testaroli Polisportiva Rocca Grimalda – Lasagne in the Peirbureira

Side event:

MotorinOvada

During the day on Sunday the MotorinOvada will also take place, the 6th gathering of vintage mopeds – roller, single-speed, touring, scooters, sports and off-road – registered by 1990.

Programme:

9:00 registration opens

11:00 departure for a tourist ride 11:30 aperitif stop at S.A.O.M.S. di Costa di Ovada 12:15 Finto Gran Premio Fondo Valle 13:00 Lunch at the "Paesi e Sapori" stands In the afternoon: Acrobatic riding: gymkhana, slow race Awards and farewells

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