What is this ?

Jim and I noticed the large rotunda in town was being set up with folding tables for 6, blue on one side, red on the other and a few that had half and half down the middle. Since there are events going on constantly we didn't pay much attention but it looked like a huge outside wedding was going to take place. The next day we were walking past the rotunda and it was teaming with people, I mean packed, lucky for us we run into one of the three people we've met in Senigallia. So Jim says "Paoula what is this"? She explained, "once a year all the surrounding towns bring their best food (gastronomica tipica) item and prepare it in this huge portable kitchen in back of the square. Its sort of like a food competition. Paoula asked if we wanted to join her and her friends and we did. So under the stars we sat and had the best meal ever on paper plates. Jim had tagliatelle ai frutti di mare, I had Goncchi all'anatra we shared a side of caponata and salad. Jim won a local game of smashing the walnut as it rolls down hill with a mallet (sponsored by two Italians in monk costumes), they were impressed with the Americano and of course what is the prize? A Panini, which we had for breakfast the next morning. So if you are visiting the Marche area of Italy the festival is called cucinedeborgo and is held in different towns all over the region during the summer so the Italians can do what they do best, cook and eat together. By the way the blue tables were for fish, the red for meat but all serve pasta.

Yes, I actually made that risotto pictured here with our friends Sue Anne and Phil who visited. Jim is so Italian now he is speaking with his hands!