Benvenuti nel nuovo anno, e nelle migliori tradizioni di campagna questo significa… il maiale nuovo!

Confortati dal successo dello scorso anno, Savour the Sannio vi invita a riunirvi davanti ad un caminetto per gustare le migliori preparazioni e piatti ricavati da questo principe della stagione: “U Puorco” , il pregiato Nero Casertano. Tradizionalmente un’occasione di festa per tutti, tranne per il porcello.

Ad un’ora e mezza a Sud di Roma, facilmente collegato con l’autostrada A1 si trova l’agriturismo Terre di Conca con il suo casale del XVIII secolo in tipico tufo collocato in 40 ettari di olivi, castagni, querce e colture biologiche.

Al padrone di casa, chef Berardino Lombardo, viene riconosciuto insieme a pochi altri di aver conservato questa rustica razza autoctona. Nel 1955 contandone solo 25 esemplari, i rapporti della FAO lo consideravano in estinzione. Oggi Berardino ne alleva circa 100 all’anno, producendo prosciutti, lardo, una varietà di succulenti insaccati ed una specialità di sua invenzione, la Stringata. Ricavata dall’intero dorso del maiale, ripiegata a libro e stagionata legata con spago (la stringa da cui il nome), comprende la lonza, il lardo e la pancetta in una gustosissima combinazione.

DATA: Sabato 7 Febbraio

ORARIO: Dalle 10.00 alle 17.00

PREZZI: Adulti: € 50,00 - Bambini anni 5-12: € 25,00 - Meno di 5 anni: Gratuito

PROGRAMMA:

10.00 Arrivo a Terre di Conca

Visita al vicino Convento dei Lattani

11.30 - Incontro con lo chef; con un aperitivo si potrà osservare la preparazione del pranzo intorno alla grande cucina. Visita dell’Azienda e possibilità per i bambini di inseguire eventuali fuggitivi dal recinto dei maialini.

13.30 - Pranzo: una ricchissima varietà di antipasti, primi, piatti forti basati sul suino, e dolci; il tutto accompagnato dai notevoli Aglianico e Pallagrello della zona. Commenteremo i piatti leggendo alcune composizioni sul maiale, e vi invitiamo a contribuire liberamente anche con testi vostri. Le ricette non sono annunciate in anticipo essendo legate alla disponibilità di verdure ed erbe varie sulla terra, ma di solito non manca la Mela Annurca, altra autoctona bontà.

15.00 - Relax in compagnia di Peppe Zona e le sue canzoni dal vivo o ammirando la magnifica collezione di ricami e merletti di Antonietta Rotondo la nostra gentile padrona di casa, godendosi il grandioso caminetto.

17.00 - Arrivederci

Alcuni commenti dai nostri ospiti lo scorso anno:

“Ci siamo veramente goduti la giornata. Durante il ritorno cercavamo di scegliere quale piatto fosse stato il favorito e d’accordo abbiamo deciso: tutti! Per tutti noi è stata una giornata veramente memorabile”.

“E’ stato un sabato meraviglioso. Grazie per averlo organizzato. Come una mini vacanza dalla routine di Roma. Il mangiare è stato incredibile, il luogo spettacolare e la compagnia gradevolissima”.

“Sabato abbiamo trascorso una bellissima giornata. Avete avuto una buona idea ad ordinare anche il bel tempo per accompagnare il buon cibo”.

Alcuni esperti di cibo hanno detto di Berardino Lombardo:

Luciana Squadrilli (Gambero Rosso):

“… Da lì alcuni dei “tesori” che produce – come quel vero e proprio monumento al maiale che è la stringata…”

Faith Willinger:

“Dalla sua fattoria biologica Berardino fornisce al ristorante pollame, maiale, salumi ed un vero giardino di erbe e frutta. Il menù è pura tradizione con la mozzarella appena fatta localmente, ricotta di capra e polenta al sugo di salsiccia per cominciare”…” Il pane è notevole, cotto nel loro forno a legna”…” C’è il pecorino maturato in barrique, il caciocavallo stagionato 6, 12, o 18 mesi, le crostate di varietà antiche di frutta, i conventuali (biscotti al burro con l’uvetta passita), e gli scauratielli fritti al miele e scorza d’arancia”

Luciano Pignataro;

“…vi regalo una di quelle schede da tenere segrete e non rivelare a nessuno, se non agli amici capaci di raggiungere il giusto equilibrio psicopapilloso. Come quello realizzato nel cuore di Berardino Lombardo che da chef antropologo è diventato agricoltore e allevatore: con la moglie Antonietta ha realizzato questo agriturismo mozzafiato tra i castagneti del vulcano spento di Rocccamonfina…”

Massimo partecipanti: 30 adulti

Per maggiori informazioni o per prenotare contattare

Barbara Goldfield barbaragoldfield@savourthesannio.com tel 0823.953663 cel. 347.1416866 or

Rachel Rennie rachel@whiskywineandwords.com tel. 06.5741377 or 3804323611

Indicazioni:

Da Nord A1 direzione Napoli, uscire a San Vittore e seguire indicazioni per Mignano Montelungo, verso la SS 6 Casilina da imboccare verso Sud. Dopo circa 8,5 Km, si volta a destra, indicazione Mignano, e si attraversa la ferrovia ed il paese seguendo indicazione per Conca della Campania ( o Conca), per altri 8 Km circa. Terre di Conca è sulla sinistra subito dopo aver passato sulla destra il segnale del Parco Regionale di Roccamonfina, e subito prima di entrare nella frazione Piàntoli.

Da Sud A1 direzione Roma, uscire a Caianello e raggiungere la SS 6 Casilina da imboccare verso Nord. Dopo circa 8 Km bivio a sinistra verso Conca della Campania. Superata Conca e subito dopo frazione Piantoli a destra c’è l’agriturismo.

[Show as slideshow]

Click here to see published Italian Notebook article

S. Pasquale is the patron saint of fertility, wealth and abundance.  The citizens of Airola are particularly devoted to him as he is considered the protector of  women and animals!   

Born in Spain in 1540 the saint’s surname, Baylon, means a person who likes dancing and is derived from the Spanish word bailar.  The story narrates that a childless couple met a man who told them to take part in the dance rituals of Obando, Bulacan. When the husband and wife arrived at the church, they were stunned to find that the face of the man they had met was identical to the church’s image of St. Paschal.

The procession of Airola lasts three days. A group of seven collatori (from the verb accollare: to saddle or take upon one’s shoulders) carry the 18th century wooden statue of the saint on their shoulders.  They are preceded by the town’s marching band and followed by barefoot men and women chanting hymns to S. Pasquale. They cover the entire town and its outskirts on foot, stopping in front of every household.  Outside, a table is set with the finest hand-embroidered tablecloths.  (Apartment dwellers hang their most beautiful crocheted and hand-made cloths from their balconies)  The statue then is lowered so that the saint is almost at eye level.  (In the past, this was done so that the worshippers could pin money to the statue, a practice now considered ‘pagan’ and prohibited by the Church)  Then the collatori, with a single movement, launch the statue (weighing 130kg) above their heads and bring it back to rest on to their shoulders.  This movement is repeated hundreds of times each day.  

Back at the church of S. Pasquale, packages of  incense and blessed bread are handed out to the farmers who will feed it to their animals and to the townfolk who will give it to their unwed daughters as a help in their search for a husband. At around 10,00 pm the statue is returned to the church where it is anxiously awaited by the townspeople and lavished with golden confetti before being put to rest for the night. 

Just when you think the heat has taken its final toll on the countryside, when the trees are wilting with thirst, when the high grasses are nothing but a tinderbox, when you can’t stand another day of brutal sunshine, the rain finally arrives.  Soft and gentle, it soothes and cools and relieves your anxiety, giving way to a physical feeling of release and renewal.   People here describe it as sense of grace.  When you live in southern Italy it’s easy to see the ties between the people, their land and livelihood, natural and supernatural phenomena, and religion.  Events that are promoted by the Church are often tinged with a little paganism, such as in the food festivals that take place throughout the year: there is the cherry and apple sagre at S. Agata dei Goti, the wheat festival at Foglianise, even the mushrooms are feted at Cusano Mutri; all these crops are anxiously awaited and their bounty celebrated.  A case in point is the Festa dell’Uva at Solopaca.

Solopaca is a small town (population just over 4000) located at the base of the Taburno Mountain and has been known for its wines since the 12th century although its origins date back to pre-history. Like many towns in Campania, it was invaded by the Normans after the fall of the Roman Empire.  In the 15th and 16th centuries it came under the rule of feudal families such as the Monsori, the Lagonesse and the Caraccoioli.

Grapes and wines represent the mainstays of the local economy, so this is a really important event.  Mayors from all over the region are seated on a raised platform strategically placed before the main church, accompanied by the city’s police force carrying their colorful municipal banners.  Solopacan’s parade along the main street in period costumes, solemly pacing ahead of the sbandieratori (flag throwers). There are brigands and pulcinellas, peasants playing the putipù, kings, queens and damsels, gayly defying the brooding clouds that are gathering over the mountain tops.

Hundreds of people line the streets, young and old, eating sausages, broiled corn and ice cream, waiting to see the giant floats as they pass by (which will then procede to Naples to be displayed the following day).   But they all have one thing in common: they are completely covered and carefully inlaid with grapes: green, gold and black.  First come the various wine producers with their logos interpreted as mosaics of grapes.  Then comes the triumphant Madonna, elegantly cloaked in black and gold (grapes).

Then follow the bigger floats with subjects running from political satire to television shows.  My favorite had a sign boasting, “Non farti prendere dal panico, futtite ‘na bottiglia e Aglianico” (”Don’t get yourself into a panico, relax and drink a bottle of Aglianico”).

I enjoy participating in these events where the sacred and profane intermingle quite naturally.  A nun strolls with a woman in excruciatingly tight pants; priests and politicians pose amicably in front of the church. Life is too damn short and everyone wants to enjoy the last summer sun… as Winter is just around the corner.

It all started as a game.  Sabra was showing off her acrobatic skills, after a big Sunday lunch at Terre di Conca.

As usual, a small group of people had gathered to watch her.   A little  man pushed his way forward and insisted that I enroll her in the upcoming dog show at Roccamonfina.  (This event was part of the inaugural festivities of the Regional Park and was being held to raise money -and awareness- for a sterilization campaign in the area.  Stray dogs are a major problem in Campania where they are often hit by cars, leaving them both homeless and crippled)

“But she’s not even a pure breed” I protested, secretly beaming that someone was so impressed with her.

“Non importa” he interrupted, “Nobody here has ever seen anything like this!”

You must know that Sabra loves to perform and will do just about anything for her pallina (little ball).  She sits and lies down; she jumps on command, she twists, rolls over and comes to heal;  she slaloms like a down-hill racer; she throws herself down slides in the playground; she will sit up and beg like a chihuahua; so long as you have her little ball in hand.

So I enrolled her in the contest and on the day of the show, as we left the villa, chef Berardino Lombardo’s parting words were: “If Sabra wins a prize I’m going to cook her a steak!” and off we went.  The town’s central square had been cordoned off and a raised platform constructed for the judges. On a table to the left were the trophies, medals and statues.  I pointed to a sculpture of a german shepherd that looked like Sabra and told Chiara, Berardino’s 12 year old daughter, “We’re going to win that one”.

There were alot of dogs. Pure breeds, mixed breeds and a couple of alien breeds, pathetically dressed as ballerinas, quivering in their bows and tutus. In the initial round Sabra behaved beautifully, trotting elegantly by my side and seating herself in the center of the piazza. She performed two or three commands, received her pallina and trotted back to our group. She was chosen as one of the 10 finalists.

On the second round we managed to present an “orsetto” (always a favourite, meaning ‘little bear’, where she sits up on her back haunches looking absolutely adorable, and a “rollover” which were with received many “ooh’s” and “ah’s” from the crowd.

It took the judges another half hour to make their decisions.  They announced the “Best of Breed” winners and the dogs and owners were duly photographed with their trophies.  Then came “Il Più Grande” (the biggest), “Il Più Piccolo” (the smallest), “il Più Carino” (the cutest), “Il Più Simpatico” (the most endearing), “Il Più Buffo” (the funniest)… It was getting dark and we had to admit that Sabra had probably not won over any hearts.

Then, just as we were starting to head back to the car, the judge announced, “And last but not least, we award the prize for “Best Show” to Sabra and her owner Signora Goldfinger!” (it’s the closest they ever get to Goldfield)

What a rush! I started to scream and jump up and down like one of those crazy ballroom-dance moms. We ran to the stage, Sabra prancing like a princess, where we recieved our prize: lo and behold, it was that  german shepherd statue mounted on a thick slab of marble…

…and when Sabra got home, there was a huge steak waiting for her.

Che soddisfazione!

Savour the Sannio is happy to announce the inauguration of a new regional park in the Sannio: Il Parco Regionale di Roccamonfina. The area of the park is delimited by the sloping hills of the extinct volcano of Roccamonfina and incorporates the towns of Sessa Aurunca, Teano, Conca della Campania, Galluccio, Tora, Piccilli, Marzano Appio and Roccamonfina itself. The park highlights a little-known treasure trove of nature, history, art, culture, agriculture and culinary traditions.

The park’s president Raffaele Aveta writes, “This is a first step towards giving the territory of Roccamonfina the visibility it deserves. Visitors from all over the world are invited to embark on a journey through our medieval towns and hamlets, our soaring chestnut groves and the collective memories of our people as well as to taste the extraordinary food and wines that are typical to this territory. This is the best way to safeguard the fertile yet fragile ecosystem of this volcano”

The next step will be the establishment of a farmer’s market where people can come on weekends to buy the local varieties of fruits and vegetables directly from the producers. This initiative is hosted by Eco-chef Berardino Lombardo on his beautiful estate of Terre di Conca. “In an age of globalization and massification, it is important for both consumers and producers to have a place where the unique heirloom varietes that are indigenous to this area can be seen, tasted…and saved from extinction. “