The end of summer can be sort of bittersweet and the arrival of the cooler months may not always be welcome. Yet, fall has a lot to offer, especially when traveling through Italy: October and November are two months filled with gastronomy festivals that celebrate the seasonal flavors and invite everyone to slow down, savor the moment and take in the bounty of incredible ingredients that make eating in the fall an absolute pleasure.
Truffles. You either love them or hate them, but for those who love them enjoying pasta or sunny side up eggs with a generous amount of grated white truffle on top is a somewhat mystical experience. Alba, in Piedmont, is famous for its International White Truffle Fair, taking place this year for the 85th time from October 10 to November 15, but there are other areas in Italy where white truffles will be celebrated this fall: pasta lovers should definitely check out Dovandola (province of Forlì Cesena) on October 18 and 25 where truffles are served with home made tagliatelle, a local favorite, while Volterra Gusto Autunno, in Volterra (Pisa) on October 24-25, is perfect for those who prefer the flavors of Tuscan cuisine.
Chestnuts. The delicious scent of chestnuts roasting on the fire will waft through the air at the Sagra delle Castagne in Soriano nel Cimino (province of Viterbo) from October 1st to the 18th. This much loved again not only offers the chance to savor chestnuts and a seemingly infinite range of chestnuts byproducts, but also gives a fun a unique insight on local history and traditions with numerous historical reenactments, medieval games and horse races, and much more.
Bologna. Mortadella Bologna IGP will be the shining star at Mortadella Bò from October 15 to the 18th in Bologna: beautiful historical Palazzo Re Enzo will host kitchen labs, tasting stations and workshops where foodies and bologna lovers can try their hand at coming up with new recipes to enjoy their beloved lunch meat. Those seeking a truly decadent experience will love the Champagneria, a station located on the second floor terrace where creative finger foods and panini will be served paired with bubbly champagne.
Speck. Looking for something fun to do in the mountains? The traditional Festa dello Speck Alto Adige is the perfect way to embrace your inner foodie while taking in the beauty of the Dolomites around Santa Maddalena (province of Bolzano). The special homemade bread with caraway and fennel seeds and buttery apple strudels, too, will share the spotlight with speck – air cured and smoked prosciutto – while local round bodied Pinot Noir and Forst beer will quench everybody’s thirst.
Chocolate. Although technically chocolate isn’t strictly a fall food, chocolate lovers will agree that any day is a good day to savor good chocolate. The Festa del Cioccolato Chocoday in Norma (province of Latina) calls all chocaholics on October 10th and 11th in the streets of the historical downtown district. The festival will feature free guided tours to the Chocolate Museum with its wonderful chocolate fountain, as well as several stands selling pralines, chocolate bars and other local favorites, and a final pyrotechnical show.
Porcini and mushrooms. If you love mushrooms in general and porcini in particular, the Sagra del Fungo Amiatino in Bagnolo San Fiora (province of Grosseto) has a lot to offer: workshops to learn where to find and how to tell if mushrooms are edible will be followed by tastings of local favorites like the famous mushroom soup that has been prepared with the same recipes for more than 100 years. In Castelfranco di Sotto (province of Pistoia) Porcini mushrooms are celebrated along with another amazing local ingredient: the delicious chianina beef t-bone steak.
Apples. Piazza Brenbana (province of Bergamo) is famous for its beautiful apple orchards and for hosting an amazing festival each year in October dedicated to its apples. On the 17th and 18th the festival will feature stands to sample different recipes prepared with local apples, from appetizers to dessert. Valle di Maddaloni (province of Caserta) too celebrates the goodness of apples with its own festival, the Festa della mela di Maddaloni on October 24th and 25th of October. Here, on top of culinary specialties and tasting stations, Pro Loco Valle has organized a buskers festival with magicians, acrobats and historical reenactments, sure to entertain young and old alike.
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