WHAT better vehicle for an Italian festival launch than a classic Fiat? It’s parked in Cathedral Gardens, venue for Festa Italiana, Manchester’s first dedicated Italian Festival, scheduled for the weekend of June 23-25.
A bunch of the finest Italian eateries, delis and food producers have joined forces to host a great big party with live music and all kinds of family-friendly activities. So what’s in store foodwise in this buzzing Little Italy?
Deliciously decadent participants at the food court include: Salvi’s (staff pictured with the official Festival Fiat) serving the very finest Neapolitan produce; San Carlo Porcetta pop-up; wood-fired pizza from acclaimed West Didsbury newcomers Proove and I Knead Pizza; Tigellae serving focaccia stuffed with home-cured meats and cheeses, antipasti and tiramisu pots; Mr Roll’s traditional Sicilian dishes; fresh pasta treats from The Pasta Project serving fresh pasta dishes; and Cabrelli Brothers serving Aperol Spritz sorbet.
The Italian food market will feature authentic producers, many of whom will be visiting Manchester especially for the Festival. There’ll be meats, cheeses, oils, wines, gelato, Prosecco, focaccia, cakes, pasta and more.
There will even be a resurrection of the 20-metre-pizza that Salvi’s created on Albert Square for Manchester Food and Drink Festival in October 2016. This time the ambition is to beat the last record and for 50 metres of pizzas to be devoured. The spectacle will be happening at 2pm on Sunday the 25th and Salvi’s will need lots of hungry helpers to demolish it.
There’ll be no shortage of fine Italian beverages to enjoy. Festival sponsors, Aperol will be hosting an Aperol Spritz Bar complete with moped seats, hammocks and more; Festival partners Moretti & Peroni will be running beer bars, Peroni’s fetauring their Peroni Ambra speciality; there’ll also be a dedicated Limoncello bar, Prosecco bar – and a San Pellegrino bar for those choosing not to have a tipple.
There’s a series of masterclasses, too. The Live Cookery Theatre will host a programme of demonstrations from the best Italian chefs in Manchester including Maurizio Cecco of Salvis, Dylan Thomas of Gusto, Filippo Pagani of San Carlo, Michele Magnotta of Proove, Lewis Drewe of Veeno and Chef Carlo Molon, who is flying over from The Sheraton Hotel in Milan for the occasion.
Plus, the real stars of the show, a group of Italian Nonnas will be making pasta from scratch all day long, and there’ll be kids pizza making too.
A live Italian band will be playing authentic Italian festival music. Especially for the occasion they are learning some Manchester classics,so festival goers can expect a Happy Monday’s singalong with an Italian twist! DJs will take over into the evening. As with all Italian events, there’s no excluding children – there’ll be face painting, Italian balloon making, pasta decorating, pizza making and more.
Festa Italiana, Friday, June 23-Sunday, June 25, 11am-11pm each day. Cathedral Gardens, Manchester. The Festival Piazza will be free to attend and other events and activities will be taking place at Salvi’s restaurants and other venues in the city.