Sagra della Trota

 Tuesday, 15th August 2023 

Today is Ferragosto, a public holiday in all of Italy. Apparently it originates from Feriae Augusti, the festival of emperor Augustus.

But today in Sefro on Ferragosto is the Sagra della Trota celebrating the trout which is important to the Marche region. We know as there is trout on every menu for every meal except breakfast.

We started the day with breakfast, our first in  a while without Ben and Izzy. Sigh, miss them already.  Then for a quick walk around the village on this big day. There had been a big mass which we did not know about but we did have a look at the church after a quick drink.

Paul checking out the stalls (1)

me and Lalla Maria

And then a look at the church

Madonna dei Calcinari

We met some people and saw a few more festival things and preparations for,

this is

the deli that looked after me so well, even with a chair instead of trestle type table chair

And then it was off to lunch at our hotel da Faustina. They were hosting 200 people for this lunch and were full inside and out. Carmine and Tizziana had booked a table for us and mother Manuela, sister Laura and friends Fabrizio and Beatricia.(Love those names).

And because they are amazing, i had gluten bloody free food. I felt so special.

The menu for our amazing meal.

the antipasti, same for everyone!

Guess which bread is gluten-bloody-free

Guess which of the two lasagnas above was gluten free. 

The bigger one and the best gluten free lasagna ever.  Paul's was very good too but he ended up with a small piece. He did however get another pasta (no photo) while i did not. Only the one for the gluten-bloody free.

           

First main course of trout cooked in amazing sauce of garlic, parmesan and a creamy cheese. For everybody.

Second main course of roast pork with roast potatoes and green chicory. Again for everybody. Very yum even for a non-pork lover.

And finally dessert. I had my own dessert of pannacotta with i think cherry sauce while normal people got fruit tart with cream. Theirs looked better but judge for yourself.

Paul had eaten some of his so looks less nice.

That was all we had and there was also a singer who sang special songs in English for us.

We definitely needed a rest and a lie down after that.  And we were then going to the actual festival where there was music and dancing. 

Carmine said to get there at 7pm so we got there at 6.50pm (you know why) and Carmine and Tizziana arrived about 8.30. 

Gianfranco and Patrizia were selling trout rolls and had been preparing the trout for days prior. Unfortunately they were crumbed. Yummy but  not gluten-bloody-free. They also decided at the last moment it seemed to do french fries.  Very popular and I had some.  

Carmine offered to get me a gluten-bloody free meal from the village to which i said no, as I was quite full and was happy with the odd chip. Maybe 30 minutes later, Laura turned up with the tuna meal from De faustina that they had prepared for me and when I tried to pay, was told was taken care of.  I was grateful but full but forced myself to eat some of the trout.

The trout stand

surrounded by mountains

The band and yes there was an accordion player

World's biggest dog. Even bigger than Wally!

The menu at the festival

Some scenes above from the festa. It was much quieter than previous festas and not much dancing. In fact there were not that many people at all.

As it was our last night, we said goodbyes to everyone. It was disappointing that Gianfranco and Patrizia had been so busy with the trout festival that they had not spent much time with us. We said goodbye to everyone and Carmine, Tizziana and Alessandro made  promises to come to Australia in December 2024.

And last of all, we said goodbye to the trout. May you aways swim freely in the river and not end up on our dinner menu. We  could not eat another trout, at least until next time.