Towns and Flavours Ovada (Alessandria) 20-21 May 2017

On foot or by motorbike, all roads lead to the good food of the Ovada hills.

After the huge success of previous editions, the lively "gathering of taste" is back in 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 the Upper Monferrato offers.

On Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 May 2017 the thirteenth 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, through the universal language of taste, the territory and the festivals that will be held in the area during the summer period.

The food stalls will open on Saturday 20 May 2017 from 6.00 pm, beginning the tasting of the many specialities accompanied by local wines, in particular Dolcetto D.O.C. and OVADA D.O.C.G. After a flash mob, in the evening the public will be entertained with animation, baby dance and the live dance music show of the group ASD Mamborico.

Kicking off the Sunday programme will be this year's novelty, designed for the little ones: Pompieropoli, the hugely successful initiative of the Fire Brigade that lets children discover the fascinating world of firefighters by playing, and learning many useful things about safety at home and beyond. As well as admiring the Fire Brigade's vehicles, the children will be able to try their hand at various exercises, perhaps even grabbing a hose to put out a fire.

From 10.30 am on Sunday MotorinOvada will also take place, the 7th rally of vintage mopeds — roller, single-speed, touring, scooter, sports and off-road models registered before 1990.

The food stalls will reopen at 12.00 for lunch and at 6.00 pm for dinner. From 7.00 pm the party continues with the dance music entertainment of the group ASD Mamborico.

This year the French municipality of Point Saint Esprit will be a guest of the event.

All the good things you will be able to taste:

Pro Loco Battagliosi/Albareto – Fiazein (old-style focaccino) Pro Loco Cassinelle – Mixed roast with potatoes Pro Loco Cimaferle – Cheese focaccia Pro Loco Costa e Leonessa – Fritters and chips Pro Loco Mantovana – Anniversary salamini Pro Loco Montaldo Bormida – Farinata Pro Loco Ovada – Bar Pro Loco Trisobbio – Stuffed polenta piadine ANSPI Oratorio Silvano d'Orba – Homemade sweets ASD Tagliolese CCRT – Agnolotti Ass. Insieme per Castelletto – Mixed fried fish Croce Verde Ovadese Onlus - Testaroli Polisportiva Rocca Grimalda – Lasagne in the Peirbuieira SOMS Silvano d'Orba – Broad beans, salami and pecorino U.S. Moretti 70 – Sheep skewers with panisette

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 territory is also reflected in its culinary traditions, which are a true union between these two wonderful lands. The Monferrato specialities are thus paired with the delicious dishes of Ligurian peasant cooking, such as farinata. Among the starters of the area the most important are vegetables in bagna cauda, raw meat chopped with a knife, anchovies in green sauce, vitello tonnato, fresh mushroom salads and the ever-present cured meats. Next, agnolotti reign among the first courses, made with thin dough and filled with meat and, of course, borage, to be eaten with sauce or "white" in a steaming cup of Dolcetto d'Ovada.

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. 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 mixed boiled meat, game, roasts, green pies with wild herbs, stuffed cime, boiled capon with green sauce, and the Piedmontese mixed fry.

FOR INFORMATION:

iat@comune.ovada.al.it Ufficio Iat Ovada 0143/821043