Garda and Brescia Launch Lake Fish Festival Amid Provincial Support
The latest developments in the enogastronomic scene of Garda and Brescia provinces presented yesterday morning at Palazzo Broletto are particularly noteworthy. They pertain to the 17th edition of the “Lake Fish, Chiaretto and Extra Virgin Olive Oil of Garda Bresciano” Food and Wine Festival: an event that this year drops the term “Coregone,” which had essentially characterized it for over 17 years. This choice was not made arbitrarily but by the decision of the Club Pesce di Lago di Manerba, presided over by Camillo Tomaselli. The club rightfully claims full credit for this event, which has, over time, gained notoriety for one of Lake Garda’s most prized fish species, previously at risk of extinction in recent years.
Announcement and participation of institutions
An announcement perhaps a little surprising, but which received immediate and positive feedback from all present authorities. Representing this new initiative was nearly the entire Provincia di Brescia Council, including the assessors Alessandro Sala (Fish and Sports), Giampaolo Mantelli (Agriculture), Stefano Saglia (Vice President), Ermes Buffoli (Tourism), and briefly, President Cavalli himself.
“I have never seen so many provincial assessors present at a festival launch,” stated Manerba’s mayor Isidoro Bertini, accompanied by his tourism assessor Giancarlo Talamazzi. This alone underscores the importance of this event, which started right in my municipality, not only in Valtenesi but also in our province and neighboring areas overlooking Lake Garda.
The “Food and Wine Festival” will start next Saturday, January 22, at the ten participating restaurants (Al Porto in Moniga, Aurora, Monastero, and Il Grillo Parlante in Soiano, Esenta in Lonato, Da Oscar Barcuzzi in Lonato, Locanda Santa Giulia in Padenghe, Il Melograno in Salò, Splendid Sole, and Tenesi in Manerba). The festival will run until March 19. During the event, themed evenings will be held, such as the one scheduled for February 10 at Splendid Sole in Manerba, focusing on fishing and lake fish of Garda.
Future prospects and upcoming events
The newly established Accademia Brescia a Tavola will initially hold three events. After this “lake fish” festival in spring, there will be a sardine-focused event in summer and another dedicated to coregone in autumn. This division is mainly due to the natural seasonal abundance of some of the most interesting fish species in Lake Garda.
Certainly, as supported by the assessors, other culinary events dedicated to different local production sectors of Province of Brescia will be promoted in the near future. Sala mentioned the Province’s commitment, through its assessorship, to creating the “Garda Ichthyological Center” located in Desenzano del Garda at località del Vò, with work seemingly about to commence imminently.
Mantelli expressed hope for a growing synergy focused on promoting Brescia’s finest agricultural products. Buffoli, meanwhile, was especially pleased with this collaboration among provincial departments, viewing tourism as the primary channel capable of promoting the natural beauty of our province, as well as the professionalism and dedication of tourism operators in enhancing, especially in the kitchen, products such as extra virgin olive oil, wine, dairy products, honey, truffles, grappas, etc.
As in the previous edition, restaurants and menus participating in this event can be found online at www.gardanotizie.it.
