Garda Risotto with Tinca Contest Returns with Six Chefs Competing
After five years, the Risotto with Tinca (tench) championship returns. The first edition was held in 1997: several evenings saw sixteen lakeside restaurants competing. This time, the contest is a single-round event with six chefs competing: the event is scheduled for tomorrow at the Lamberti cellars.
Contest and History of the Dish
Risotto with tinca is one of the most popular dishes in the Lake Garda area, and Lazise is something of a small capital for it, as many venues offer it. On the lake’s coast, the recipe has been widespread since at least the early 17th century. Today, it is a staple of traditional cuisine and also a historical memory of the times when rice was cultivated by the lake.
Five years ago, Slow Food del Garda veronese and the association Sapori del Garda launched a true tournament among the restaurants of the coast and hinterland: the technical jury, led by Giorgio Gioco, awarded victory to Rely di Brenzone, while popular votes favored Porticciolo di Lazise and the Cristane of Rivoli; a special trophy for authenticity was awarded to Kambusa in Lazise.
Despite the success of that event, no replay had occurred until now. However, Slow Food and the association I Ghiottoni are now reviving the challenge (reservations can be made at 045.626.0518). Tomorrow evening, six chefs from Garda and the Bassa veronese, the only rice-growing area remaining in the Verona province, will face off in Lazise.
Program and Chefs in Competition
In essence, it will be the audience voting for the favorite risotto. The program begins at 8:30 p.m. with an aperitif featuring lake-style fried foods, followed by pike in sauce prepared by chefs Flavio Tagliaferro and Isidoro Consolini (finalists in the tournament five years ago). Then, the six risottos in the contest will be sampled, accompanied by Lugana Melibeo and Soave Sanfederici from Santi, as well as two wines from Collio: Sauvignon and Chardonnay Torre di Tramontana from Conti Formentini.
Here’s a look at the competing chefs. Giulio Azzi is the owner of Il Porticciolo di Lazise, who previously won the popular vote award five years ago; this time, he represents the Lazise restaurant association. Claudia Boarotto hails from Isola della Scala, in the heart of the Vialone Nano veronese IGP rice production area: she is competing on behalf of Risosteria Biffi.
Adriana Bocconcello is currently a freelance chef living in Bardolino. Five years ago, she won the special award as chef of Kambusa in Lazise. Lorenzo Bonato is a young chef from Basso Garda. Together with his father Imerio, a renowned expert in lakeside cuisine (he invented a delicious lakeside fish soup), he has recently founded Cascina Martelosio Country Club in Pozzolengo, in the hinterland of Brescia’s Garda.
Renato Leoni owns a rice mill, Riso del Vò, and has just opened a venue in Isola della Scala: it is called Pila dell’Abate, where he showcases his cooking skills. Stefano Lorenzi is the young sous-chef working under Isidoro Consolini at the restaurant Al Caval in Torri del Benaco. Last year, he won the risotto contest with tastasal coordinated by Slow Food.
