There are some things money can't buy...blackberries picking in Umbria!

In Umbria Summer is the period of wild blackberries, called in Italian "more".

The botanical name of this delighful fruit is "rubus fruticosus".
The blackberry is an edible fruit produced by any of several species in the Rubus genus of the Rosaceae family. The fruit is not a true berry; botanically it is termed an aggregate fruit.



Umbrian country is very rich in wild blackberries. Many Umbrians - in their free time - love "raccogliere le more" (=blackberries picking) and using them for jams, cakes and also on top of a gelato!



Blackberries picking is a very relaxing activity and it costs nothing!! You just need a pair of comfortable shoes, long trousers and a pair of gardening-gloves just to avoid to be hurt by the thorns.

part of our harvest


Being immersed in the beauty of an Umbrian landscape, walking with your friends, picking "more" and eating them is a priceless experience.

...sourrounded by such beauty....



As a famous slogan says : "there are some things money can't buy. For everything else there's.... Umbria!"

Do you know that 569 years ago there was a smugglers' state in Umbria?

Umbria history is really amazing!!!

Reading books, on-line newspapers, websites, social networks, we discover very interesting information and stories about our beautiful region almost every day.

Today we learnt that 569 years ago, there was a small former republic here:
Cospaia, a small hamlet close to San Giustino, a town located in Northern Umbria.


San Giustino (pic:Wikipedia)

The interesting fact is that Cospaia was founded thanks to a mistake!

In 1441 by error a small strip of land in Northern Umbria went unmentioned in the sale treaty between Tuscany and the Papal State, and its inhabitants promptly declared themselves independent and founded a "modern republic", developing the production and commercialization of tobacco, deserving the appellation of "state of the tobacco and.... smuggling"!

In 1826 Tuscany and the Papal States divided the republic between them.



On the 4th and 5th September 2010 the local Municipality of San Giustino is celebrating Cospaia and its peculiar history together with a demonstration of the ancient craft of "tabaccaio" (=cigar-making).

EDU-DINNERS IN ORVIETO 13th AUGUST – 10th SEPTEMBER 2010

CANTINE & CHEF ALLA RIBALTA 2010
WINERIES & CHEFS IN THE LIMELIGHT 2010

Would you like discovering Umbrian Wineries and get to know Umbrian chefs and their amazing dishes?

Our partners and dear friends at “Il Palazzo del Gusto” in Orvieto are organizing from the 13th August to the 12th September a series of “educational” dinners to promote Umbrian wineries and local chefs, promotion that is now very important in this difficult times.

The dinners are taking place on the wonderful terrace at “Il Palazzo del Gusto”, in Orvieto historical centre.
The rich programme includes tasting of all the most important varieties of Umbrian wines from the local white “Orvieto Classico” to the red “Sagrantino”, from the DOC “Torgiano”,“Colli Amerini”, to Trasimeno Lake wines.

Every wine is proposed in matching with specialities prepared by the best local restaurants from the different Umbrian territories.

The beautiful cloister at "Il Palazzo del Gusto"



Given that the event involves - and it is under the aegis of- “Il Palazzo del Gusto” and “Città Slow”, the dinners are offered at a very fair price. “Slow Food” associates get also a discount.
1 dinner costs: € 30.00 p.p. – Slow Food associates: € 28,00 p.p.

To take part to the event, it is necessary to book in advance contacting our friends:
Graziella, Francesca, Lucia - email: itinera.orvieto@tiscalinet.it - ph. 0763.341818 – 0763.393529 @ IL PALAZZO DEL GUSTO - Convento S. Giovanni Via Ripa Serancia I, n° 16


In addition at “Il Palazzo del Gusto”, until the 12th September it will be possible to taste the wines “in the limelight” during the week.

SUPPORT “TERRA MADRE”



“Terra Madre” is an international project created by Slow Food. It is “The Food Communities Network” whose aim is bringing together those players in the food chain who together support sustainable agriculture, fishing, and breeding with the goal of preserving taste and biodiversity.
During the event, thanks to “Città Slow”, at “Il Palazzo del Gusto” there will be a booth with layouts, brochures and info on the project.
To know more: http://www.terramadre.info/

CANTINE & CHEF ALLA RIBALTA 2010
WINERIES & CHEFS IN THE LIMELIGHT 2010


Following the rich programme (sorry we don’t translate the dishes in English: everything is local, "Km Zero" and….of course......yummy!!!)

AUGUST 13 h. 8.30PM

Winery: FONTESECCA – CITTA’ DELLA PIEVE (PG)
Restaurant: AL SALTAPICCHIO - ORVIETO

Menu
Appetizer
Groppone di San Venanzo con fichi e confettura di cipolle rosse
e pane di farro biologico
wine: Bianco IGT Umbria 2009 Biologico

First course
Pasta e Ceci tiepida con scaglie di formaggio biologico di capra “Fattoria Mafalda”
ed emulsione di olio extra vergine d’oliva Soc. Case Basse (Orvieto)
wine: Ciliegiolo IGT Umbria 2009 Biologico

Second course
Bocconcini di maiale di cinta biologico, allo zafferano di Città della Pieve
saltati con prugne timo e patate
wine: Pino Sangiovese IGT Umbria 2008 Biologico

Dessert
Semifreddo alla ricotta di pecora con ristretto di more selvatiche e
wine: “Pino” Sangiovese Fontesecca

AUGUST 20 h. 8.30PM

Winery: MADONNA DEL LATTE - ORVIETO (TR)
Restaurant: ZEPPELIN – ORVIETO

Menu
Appetizer
Flan di zucchine e spinaci con vellutata di tartufo e coriandoli di pomodoro ciliegino
wine: Viognier Umbria IGT 2009

First course
Lasagna agli asparagi su fonduta di pecorino e cipolle rosse caramellate
wine: Viognier Umbria IGT 2009

Second course
Cosciotto di pollo farcito con patate, peperoni e finocchietto selvatico
Verdure di stagione alla griglia
wine: Sucano Umbria IGT 2009

Dessert
Mousse di mascarpone con salsa di ciliegie alla grappa
wine: Grappa “Madonna del Latte” 2008

AUGUST 27 h. 8.30PM

Winery: CASTELLO DELLE REGINE – AMELIA (TR)
Restaurant: LA PENISOLA – BASCHI (TR)

Menu
Appetizer
Veline di mongana marinate alle erbette con melanzane
alla mentuccia e spaghettini di costine all'aglio, olio e peperoncino
wine: Bianco delle Regine Umbria IGT 2008

First course
Nido di fettuccine al ragout bianco e granella di caciottone croccante
wine: Merlot Umbria IGT 2004

Second course
Vitellina da latte avvolta nel porro su riduzione al Sangiovese umbro di “Castello delle Regine”
wine: Selezione del Fondatore Sangiovese Grosso Umbria IGT 2003

Dessert
Bavarese al pistacchio su laghetto di pesca giallona caramellata

SEPTEMBER 3 h. 8.30PM

Winery: Cantina alla Ribalta CANTINA NOVELLI – MONTEFALCO (PG)
Restaurant: TRIPPINI- BASCHI (TR)

Menu
Appetizer
Panzanella con frappe di cetrioli e tonno
Supplì di coda alla vaccinara con crema di cipolle e aceto balsamico
Sagrantino Rosè de Noir Metodo Classico 2008

First course
Umbrichelli al pepe con porcini e uva
Pecorino Umbria IGT 2009

Second course
Agnello locale farcito con zucchine e menta salsiccia di agnello panata alla pizza al formaggio
Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG 2006

Dessert
Tiramisù alle mandorle con fichi caramellati

SEPTEMBER 10 h. 8.30PM

Winery: TENUTA LE VELETTE – ORVIETO (TR)
Restaurant: SALE E PEPE - ORVIETO

Menu
Appetizer
Millefoglie croccante con farro di Colfiorito e cipolline di Cannara caramellate
con baffo rosolato
wine: Lunato Orvieto Classico Superiore DOC 2009

First course
Tortello alla ricotta salata di Norcia accompagnato da pomodorini gialli e basilico fresco
wine: Sole Uve Umbria IGT 2008

Second course
Sella di coniglio farcita con fichi freschi
Patate novelle laccate all'arancio
wine: Gaudio Umbria IGT 2005

Dessert
Spuma di uve malvasia e grechetto con cioccolata fondente
wine: Raggio Umbria IGT 2007

Sagra del Pesce at Trasimeno Lake – a wonderful Mid-Summer "eating" night

Sagra del Pesce di Porto, a little village close to Castiglione del Lago (Trasimeno Lake area), is, definitely, one of the best Summer Food Festival here in Umbria.

We discover this amazing event last year, thanks to Anna, a dear friend of us (she's from the Netherlands, but her heart is always here:), owner of a very nice holiday-house in Porto.

We went to Porto last evening - 8th August- to taste again the traditional local dishes BRUSTICO and TEGAMACCIO, made by fish from the near lakes, very special dishes that you can taste only in this area.

The Sagra





Yesterday night, we not only ate a lot (it is not a surprise when you're with Discovering Umbria team :), but we had the opportunity to meet the protagonists of this Sagra and to talk with them.

Giorgio, one of the organizers, sit with us for a while and gave us some very impressive data.

Here Giorgio’s amazing tale:
“Sagra del Pesce di Porto was born 25 years ago. This year we are very proud to celebrate this “birthday”. This festival is very important for the inhabitants of Porto- as we work all year round to organize these 10 days of food. And all of us are volunteers!!
Around 200 people live in the little hamlet of Porto during the Summer (including many foreigners – like our friend Anna - who help in the Sagra) and 120 are directly involved in the event.
Every night for 9 days we prepare BRUSTICO and TEGAMACCIO for 800-900 people, and for Ferragosto (15th August) we are waiting for more than 1.000 people.”

"Interviewing" Giorgio


Anna,Giorgio,Alessandra



We were really impressed when Giorgio added : “At the end of each Sagra, we see that we have cooked about 3.000 kg of fish!”

This quantity is really huge considering also the fact that both BRUSTICO and TEGAMACCIO are cooked on coal produced ONLY by reeds from the lake and woods, as in the past! In addition, TEGAMACCIO has to be cooked very slowly for 5 long hours.

Tegamaccio

Brustico


Thanks to our local “connections” we had the opportunity to visit the kitchens.. and we don’t add any other words to the following photos: everything is cooked on “natural” fire as our Umbrian ancestors did it in ancient times….

A tegamaccio pot saved from our hunger


The coal used to cook tegamaccio for 5 hours


talking with the proud cooks!!


Very proudly (and we are very proud, too) Giorgio added that thanks to a fair agreement between the local Municipality and a company producing recyclable dishware, plates, forks, knives, glasses are all made by “Mater B” a special material by corn and paper and all the drinks are served in bottles made of glass.



The attention to the environment is really the “cherry on the cake” for an unforgettable Mid-Summer eating night in company with the “Heroes of BRUSTICO and TEGAMACCIO”!

the rich menu


Anna, Giorgio and all the warm-hearted people from Porto, thank you so so so much!!!

Sagra del Pesce di Porto ends 15th August 2010. Don’t miss this opportunity to live an authentic Umbrian experience!!

The bottle of wine with the cute picture of the organizers


Porto is a village between the lakes of Chiusi and Trasimeno, on the border between Tuscany and Umbria. It is easy to reach from Chiusi.

Sagra del Pesce - Lake fish festival at Trasimeno 7-15/08/2010

Lovers of Umbrian food traditions, if you are travelling in the region, this is the Sagra (=food festival) that you should not miss!!





From the 7th to the 15th August the little hamlet of Porto (close to Castiglione del Lago) on Trasimeno Lake will host the 25th Sagra del Pesce!!

The main dishes that you can taste are BRUSTICO AND TEGAMACCIO.

BRUSTICO is grilled fish served with the special extra-virgin olive oil from Trasimeno. Do you know that the olive trees that grow around this lake are special trees? The variety is called "Dolce Agogia" and they are typical of this area.
The legend tells that BRUSTICO was loved by Etruscans!!


Brustico

TEGAMACCIO is a fish soup made by all the fish varieties living in Trasimeno Lake, especially the tasty "anguilla" (=eel). Preparing a TEGAMACCIO takes long time and a lot of work.
In PORTO you can taste the original ancient recipe passed down from generation to generation during the centuries.


Tegamaccio

Moreover every dinner (the kitchens open at 7PM every evening, on the 15th August at 12AM) is followed by a "serata danzante" with popular live music and dances.

Sagra del Pesce di Porto is definitely one of the best food festival that you can find in Umbria. It is a small sagra, organized by a group of warm-hearted local people to celebrate - and to share with us - their ancient traditions.