“Il Desco saperi e sapori della Lucchesia”, is an event dedicated to traditional food from the Lucca area. It’s held at the Real Collegio in Lucca over the course of 4 weekends in November and December; not only tastings, samplings and cookery courses, but also literary events and shows.
The event opens with the Bean for the plain of Lucca (20 and 21 November), followed by Spelt for Garfagnana (27 and 28 November), the Chestnut for the Serchio valley (4 and 5 December) and ends with Bread & Oil from the Lucca hills (11 and 12 December). Indulgences for 8 December, day of the Immaculate Conception, with a special opening dedicated to Cigars and chocolate. 20-21
4/5 December – chestnuts!
“Una sagra al giorno” ( A feast a day): the Lupinaia Chestnut from Fosciandora, “Mondine” boiled chestnuts from the ancient village of Colognora in Pescaglia
Chestnuts galore!: “necci sul sasso morto, nei testi e dalla necciatrice” (two variations of chestnut flour pancakes), “mondine” and “ballocciori” (boiled chestnuts).
4 December
11.30 am start
3.30 pm Meeting room – Ground floor
RING!: the Serchio Valley chestnut up against that from the Island of Elba
Accompanied by the poets of the ottava rima
3.30 pm Tasting room – Ground floor
“Una sagra al giorno” (A feast a day): Lupinaia chestnut festival: past and present flavours from a small mountain village.
5.30 pm Relax area – Ground floor
“Incontri fumosi” (Smoky meetings): tastings, smoke and chatter while savouring a “toscano” in collaboration with C.C.A. Presented by Roberto Giomi (Independent Smokers Group)
6 pm Palazzo Sani, via Fillungo 121
“Il Piatto” (The Dish): “necci” – chestnut flour pancakes. Cookery lessons with the Associazione Cuochi Lucchesi (Lucca Cooks Association)
6.30 pm Palazzo Tucci via Cesare Battisti
“Scrivi come Mangi” (Write how you eat): meeting with wine and food critic Licia Granello (Repubblica)
Presented by Sebstiano Mondadori (writer and director of the Barnabooth School of Creative Writing)
Sunday 5
11.30 am Tasting room – Ground floor
“Buongiorno Desco!”: morning workshops
3.30 pm Tasting room – Ground floor
“Una sagra al giorno” (A feast a day): “Mondine” boiled chestnuts from the historical village – Colognora Chestnut Museum in Pescaglia.
4.30 pm Tasting room – Ground floor
“Wine in 5 senses: smell – a flower in the glass” Approaches to wine appreciation by the sommeliers of the F.I.S.A.R. – Lucca Garfagnana delegation with Dr. Giuseppe Ferroni (University of Pisa)
5.30 pm Relax area – Ground floor
“Incontri fumosi” (Smoky meetings): tastings, smoke and chatter while savouring a “toscano” in collaboration with C.C.A. Presented by Roberto Giomi (Independent Smokers Group)