13th Festival Nazionale dei Primi Piatti, I Primi d'Italia 2011 (13th National Festival of First Courses - 2011 The Starters of Italy)

Arrives at its thirteenth edition, unique of its kind in Italy, the Festival Nazionale dei Primi Piatti, I Primi d'Italia (National Festival of First Courses, The Starters of Italy), which this year will fill 16 locations in the historical center of Foligno (PG), delighting the palate (and mind, ed) of the lovers (and not) to soups, pasta, rice, gnocchi (dumplings), polenta, regional formats, traditional recipes, creative dishes and specialties of Sardinia and Piedmont. There will be no less than 85 of the best chefs in the world of gourmet cooking.

Will be three the main areas, with numerous subsections, which will break the 4 days, from September 29th to October 2nd, 2011, of the Festival. The "heart" will be, of course, the Circuito del Gusto – Degustazioni Continuative (Circuit of Taste – Continuing Sampling). The Circuito del Gusto will be a walkway in the center through 14 Villagi del Gusto (Taste's Villages): pasta, ricette creative; pasta, ricette tipiche regionali; gnocchi e pasta fresca; zuppe e tipicità locali; polenta; riso e gluten free; zuppa unità d'Italia; ravioli e stringozzi; primi di mare; nuraghi e tipicità sarde; farro; pasta belli; plin e tipicità piemontesi; tartufo. The continuous tastings will costs € 2,50, or you can try a first menù to € 7,50.

The second is Cucina Corsi & Percorsi – La Cucina d'Autore per Tutti (Kitchen Courses & Routes – Author's Cooking for Everyone). Meetings, discussions and tasting appointments with International Class Chef. Thursday, September 29th and 30th, from 10:00 to 15:00, will be two Master of Starters, with issuance of certificate of participation. One is held by Italo Bassi, "Il gusto dell'eccellenza... squisitamente primi" ("The taste of excellence ... exquisitely starters"). Cost: € 85.00. The other, titled "La mia passione per i primi di mare" ("My passion for sea's starters) by Philippe Léveillé. Even for this master, € 85.00. Reservations required.
There will also be one Officina dei Primi (Starters' Workshop), a workshop of taste, where you will see chefs struggling with the creation of a first course. Tasting session at € 10.00, reservations required here, too.
There will also Pasta d'Autore (Author's Pasta), meeting place for historical pasta factories and chefs, that will carry live reinterpretations of some of Italy's most famous pasta. Tasting session at € 10,00, advance booking required.

The last area is called Special Events. These appointments, excluding the I Primi d'Italia Junior, will be totally free. There will be exhibitions and markets, with the best Italian food artisans.
Food Art, places where art, culture and power will merge.
Entertainment, areas of entertainment with daily programming. Among others, there will be Gene Gnocchi , Cacioppo and a cooking show with Anna Moroni and Andy Luotto.
And finally, the I Primi d'Italia Junior. A festival "small", where children, between play and teaching, will learn the principles of a healthy diet. Session € 5.00 and reservations required.

The Festival will be at the following times: Thursday, September 29th and Friday 30th from 16:00 to 23;
Saturday 1st October from 10 to 23;
Sunday, October 2nd from 10 to 21.

Following, the complete program of the 13th Festival Nazionale dei Primi Piatti – 2011 I Primi d'Italia: Programma I Primi d'Italia 2011(pdf 996 kb)

Official web-site: iprimiditalia.it