Words by Pat Eggleton
Pizza chefs, accordionists and wild mushrooms: here are three events to consider attending if you are going to be in Calabria this autumn.
Pizza chef championship
Scalea, 27th - 28th September
The “Pizzaiolo Campione d'Italia 2010” [“Pizza Chef Champion of Italy 2010”] and “Pizzaiolo Campione D'Italia 2010” [“Pizza Chef Champion of Champions”] competitions take place at the Hotel Parco dei Principi in Scalea [Cosenza] on 27th and 28th September. These competitions are open to Italian and non-Italian pizza chefs who have Italian residence.
The chefs will be judged on their gastronomic abilities and skills and will cook gala dinners on both nights for guests at the hotel.
An innovation which everyone is looking forward to this year is a competition for the best judge. It seems that the pizza chefs are fed up with certain judges who have a superior attitude and they are going to put together some criteria for a good judge and pick a winner themselves.
It all sounds a lot of fun and you can find more information here.
Scalea, on the Riviera dei Cedri, is one of the most visited resorts in Italy and derives its name from its terraced lay-out on a hillside. The old town retains part of its wall and there is much art and architecture to see, including a Norman Castle, the thirteenth century Palazzo Spinelli and the Church of Santa Maria D'Episcopio. The area around the beach offers all that you would expect from a modern resort.
Accordion gathering
Bisignano, 16th October
There is an interesting non-food event in Bisignano [also in Cosenza Province] on 16th October. This is the fifth edition of the Raduno Suonatori di Organetto [Gathering of Diatonic Accordion Players] who will be joined by players of other traditional Calabrian instruments.
The gathering is part of the Festival of the Madonna di Costaninopoli. The town's Chiesetta di Tutti i Santi [Little All Saints' Church] is also known locally as the Chiesa della Madonna di Costantinopoli because inside there is a statue of the Madonna of Constantinople or “Marunnella” and also a Byzantine icon representing her.
Typical local food will be served during the musicians' gathering. The programme will shortly be posted on this website.
Bisignano is well worth a visit as it is an artistic city with ancient origins. It was mentioned by Livy as Besidiae. The Riforma Convent [1222] is noteworthy for its Crucifix sculpted by Frate Umile da Petralia in the seventeenth century.
Mushroom Festival
Mammola, 31st October
Each year on the last Sunday in October the town of Mammola [Reggio Calabria] holds its Sagra del Fungo Porcino e Altri Prodotti della Montagna [Festival of the Porcino Mushroom and other Mountain Products].
This is a great day for the town and the festivities begin at midday with tastings of mushrooms. They are prepared in many different ways – with pasta, with beans, in meatballs, fried or in omelettes or in frittelle [griddle cakes] – and are served on traditional, earthenware plates. Other typical local products are also served.
The mushrooms will have been gathered from the 9,000 hectares of woods around Mammola but do not worry if you have read recent reports of people dying after eating wild mushrooms in Italy: all the mushrooms gathered for the festival are thoroughly checked for safety!
Throughout the afternoon and evening there is singing and dancing and there are open air shows and other events. The celebrations will not be over until at least midnight.
While you are in Mammola, do visit the medieval town, which has many churches and is rich in art. San Nicodemo was active there and founded a hillside monastery in the tenth century. The town also affords stupendous views of the surrounding countryside. It is near both the Aspromonte National Park and the sea.
You can obtain further information
by calling the Amici del Fungo on 320 232 4501
or by emailing:
prolocomammolo@virgilio.it
We hope that these ideas have given you a flavour of Calabria.
