It will be celebrated in more than 150 venues including restaurants, historic cellars, agritourisms, Il 24,25 and 26 November and 1,2,3 December the 2024 edition of Bagna Cauda Day the initiative that for eleven years has been promoting throughout the world the famous preparation based on desalted and deboned garlic and anchovies, cooked over a low heat in olive oil, typical of the cuisine of lower Piedmont.
In past centuries in that area it was very easy to obtain salted anchovies, the fundamental ingredient, as the ancient Piedmont supplied itself with salt from the salt pans of Provence and the mouth of the Rhone, through a series of trade routes that crossed the passes of the Maritime Alps known as the "salt routes". Legend has it that the trade in salted anchovies was a way to trade salt, thus avoiding paying high duties: tubs full of salt had, when checked by the tax collectors, a layer of salted anchovies in the upper part while the salt was hidden underneath.
A dish created to avoid paying the salt tax by placing anchovies on the surface of the tubs
Traditionally, Bagna Caoda is a typical dish of the harvest period; therefore, to be consumed mainly in autumn and winter: one of the legends about its birth is that it was prepared to reward the grape harvesters for their work. More than a dish, it is a convivial ritual: the traditional bagna càuda was brought to the table in the dian, a terracotta cooking pan, and kept at temperature using a earthenware warmer filled with live embers, the s-cionfetta. Subsequently, the inconvenience of dipping in a single container (especially for those who were seated further away from the dian) and the unhygienic fact of dipping already bitten pieces of vegetables into the common container, led to the adoption of individual terracotta containers (fojòt) consisting of a bowl to which an alcohol or meta burner or a wax candle is subjected, to keep the sauce warm. Bagna càuda should be accompanied by full-bodied red wines: Barbera, Nebbiolo, Barbaresco or even Dolcetto.
«This year's Bagna Cauda Day – say the organizers – sends out an important message which has unfortunately become even more topical. We entrusted Gino Vercelli, a renowned cartoonist, with the task of designing the slogan “Bagna Pax: put some thistles in your cannons.” Un strong reminder of the desire for peace and conviviality who already last year with Caritas had made us organize a bagna cauda with Ukrainian and Russian guests - they say from Astigiani - All the bagna cauda supporters who in the last weekend of November and the first weekend of December will go to taste the bagna cauda in participating venues they will receive a free fabric bib."
The event, spread throughout Piedmont, Valle d'Aosta and Liguria, also has significant presences abroad. In China, the Piedmontese who work in Shanghai will celebrate Bagna Cauda Day, and Bagna Cauda Day will also be celebrated in Japan, at the I Bologna restaurant in Wakayama and at Bar B in New York.
Of note this year is the participation in the project of two important entities: Slow Food and the chefs' alliance which commits participating restaurateurs (appropriately reported) to use products from the presidia for their bagna cauda, from garlic to anchovies, from peppers to extra virgin olive oil. The ATL Langhe Monferrato Roero will also communicate Bagna Cauda Day among the most important events in the area, underlining how bagna cauda is "the other scent of Piedmontese autumn".
Edition dedicated to peace: a Jewish and a Palestinian cook in the kitchen
«We have become a destination for many visitors from all over the world – said the president of the ATL Mariano Rabino and the director Bruno Bertero – Langhe Monferrato Roero is “Destination with the best food and wine offer” at the tourism Oscars awarded by The Data Appeal Company – Almawave Group within the TTG Travel Experience in Rimini, considering the online reputation: we must give high-level messages and be up to the challenge. Bagna Cauda Day conveys the value of conviviality and has the merit of raising awareness of the many lesser-known but important restaurants and trattorias in the area."
Even this year, as already in 2019, with bagna cauda cooked together by a Palestinian and a Jewish cook, and in 2022, with the meeting at the table between Ukrainians and Russians, the Bagna Pax is back: it is a very special event, organized by the Caritas of Asti for Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd December, for dinner, in the large cellar of the Foyer delle Famiglie in via Milliavacca in Asti.
«Peace is dialogue, dialogue takes place sitting around a table – said Marco Prastaro, bishop of Asti – Bagna cauda brings together ingredients that do not fit together: peace is also made in the possibility of what appears irreconcilable but instead becomes possible . Meeting at the table generates something positive where peace is possible."
The initiative of Caritas and the Astigiani association which will pay homage to the Bagna Cauda Day bibs will also see the contribution of the professional agricultural organization Cia of Asti which will offer cardoons and vegetables. We have involved a group of young people who will serve the tables and characterize the peace-themed evening in a convivial atmosphere" anticipates Beppe Amico, president of Caritas Asti.
Sunday 26 November, on the occasion of the Turin Earth Market, will be Bagna Cauda Market: the best producers selected by Slow Food will offer for sale the raw materials to make an exceptional bagna cauda even at home: from 9am in via Fenoglietti 14.
Bagna cauda market for excellent products but also “Sporta a ca'” to have it ready at home
There is also the possibility of having bagna cauda at home, ready with all the right vegetables in restaurants that offer the "Sporta a ca'" version.
Bagna cauda can be offered in various versions indicated by a traffic light: As God commands (red), heretical (yellow) or atheist without garlic (green). The finale in glory with truffles is also expected. Bagna Cauda Day brings together four important Asti wineries, leaders of Barbera: Bava di Cocconato, Braida di Rocchetta Tanaro, Cascina Castlèt di Costigliole and Coppo di Canelli. Bagna Cauda Day finances concrete actions of social solidarity and environmental protection.
«We believe in the concrete action of planting trees – they explain from Astigiani – The Bagna Cauda day will help finance the creation of the Bosco degli Astigiani on the hills of Viatosto on a land of over 5 hectares made available to the Municipality of Asti by the Bank of Asti. We can say that by eating bagna cauda we will thus contribute to the growth of a large public park in the name of environmental sustainability to protect biodiversity." For information and reservations: www.bagnacaudaday.it
