“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
11/12 December – Bread & Oil
“Una sagra al giorno” (A feast a day): with the Cascio “crisciolette” festival, the Fosciandora “cigerani” festival, the Gallicano “focaccia” festival and the Altopascio bread festival.
Sabato 11
11.30 am Meeting room – Ground floor
“Nulla fa bono all’occhi” (Nothing is good for the eye): memories, flavours and fantasies in the kitchen of Simonetta Simonetti with finale of “merende” (snacks).
3 pm Meeting room – Ground floor
“RING!”: grand final with a double challenge!
Altopascio’s bread up against…
Lucca’s extra virgin DOP olive oil up against…
Accompanied by the poets of the ottava rima
3.30 pm Tasting room – Ground floor
“Una sagra al giorno” (A feast a day): Altopascio Bread Festival and Lucca’s olive oil
5.30 pm Relax area – Ground floor
“Incontri fumosi” (Smoky meetings): tastings, smoke and chatter while savouring a “toscano” with C.C.A. Presented by Roberto Giomi (Independent Smokers Group)
6 pm Tasting room – Ground floor
Chef Pardini gets ready for Christmas and shows us how to make “befanotti”. Workshops by the International Academy of Italian Cuisine
6.30 pm Palazzo Tucci
“Scrivi come mangi” (Write how you eat): meeting with Vittoria Dalla Cia (La Cucina Italiana)
Presented by Sebastiano Mondadori (writer and director of the Barnabooth School of Creative Writing)
Sunday 12
11.30 am Tasting room – Ground floor
“Buongiorno Desco!”: morning workshops.
12 pm Meeting room
Let’s talk about … oil
3.30 pm Tasting room – Ground floor
“Una sagra al giorno” (A feast a day): the Cascio “crisciolette” festival, the Fosciandora “cigerani” festival and the Gallicano “focaccia” festival.
4.30 pm Tasting room – Ground floor
“Wine in 5 senses: sound: when wine is conversation” Approaches to wine by the sommeliers of the F.I.S.A.R. –Lucca Garfagnana delegation with Dr. Valdo Filippi (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)
Desco to see: the exhibitions
“Kakushiaji – il gusto nascosto” (The hidden taste)
Third cloister Ground floor – via della Cavallerizza entrance
Desco hosts the exhibition of the Japanese photographer, in collaboration with Lucca Digital Photo Festival.
Hours: everyday 10 am – 7 pm
Free entry