Ahh you know fall has arrived in Piobbico when you smell polenta! Last weekend was the annual Festa della Polentone alla Carbonara - Festival of Polenta made over an open fire! It was a gorgeous fall day, the streets filled with hungry visitors, festive music, good wine (a euro a glass) & hundreds of pounds of polenta - a fun & delicious time had by all!
The polenta is prepared in a copper cauldron heated by a wood fire, and stirred by hand with a wooden stick (this is serious work!), it is then cut into slices & seasoned with a special sauce called sufrangoli. If you look at the above photos (on the bottom left) you can see 2 guys carring a silver container between them - it's the sauce - they are headed to refill & share the 'sugo' or sauce with the other stands making polenta!
All in all there were 5 groups of polenta makers scattered about town, endlessly stirring ground corn (or polenta) for the masses to devour...and eat they did! Most locals, knowing the inside scoop - came prepared - not asking for a single serving but bringing casserole dishes & pots from home to be filled & weighed out by the kilo to feed their family!
Next year if you are in the area stop on by & eat your fill of polenta on the first Sunday of September!
Ashley Bartner is the Living in Italy Editor for Wandering Educators.
La Tavola Marche Agriturismo & Cooking Holiday
eating polenta in italy
YUM, ashley! this sounds fantastic! did you bring some home, too?
Jessie Voigts, PhD
Publisher, wanderingeducators.com
Polenta!
This festival post and pics are great. I'm fascinated with that kettle of polenta - must be some strong arms to stir the thickening polenta.
"Take the adventure, heed the call, now ere the irrevocable moment passes!"
...The Wind In The Willows, Kenneth Grahame