Isola della Scala Rice Fair Promotes Vialone Nano and Local Gastronomy
Isola della Scala
Initiatives and Celebrations of the Rice Fair
Twenty days of gastronomic, cultural, sporting, and musical events to celebrate the richness of Isola della Scala: the Vialone Nano rice. The 34th Rice Fair will begin on Tuesday, September 19, with the final evening of the fourth “Risotto d’Oro” contest, and will conclude on Sunday, October 8, with the reenactment of the ancient threshing.
Between these two dates, volunteers working at various food stalls will produce at least 200,000 “Isolana” risottos. The event calendar was presented yesterday in the Province by the provincial Councillor for Agriculture, Albino Pezzini, the Councillor for Events of Isola della Scala, Stefano Giordani, and the president of the Protection Consortium for Veronese Vialone Nano rice with protected geographical indication (IGP), Ernesto Artegiani.
“The Rice Fair of Isola della Scala,” Pezzini stated, “represents a great opportunity to promote a typical product cultivated in a territory that includes 24 municipalities. It is an occasion to promote tourism and the economy of the Lower Veronese area.”
The Contest and Gastronomic Activities
Artegiani, president of the Protection Consortium, emphasized the importance of the “Risotto d’Oro” contest, which saw the participation of 35 restaurants competing in the preparation of dishes made with vialone nano rice produced by rice mills associated with the Consortium.
On the evening of the 19th, at Villa Boschi, a panel of specialists and a popular jury, which will include the 24 mayors of the district, will select the winning risotto among the five finalists.
Gianmaria Melotti, creator of the contest, explains: “The culinary competition has been ongoing for four months. Excluded from participation are the restaurateurs of Isola della Scala due to hospitality obligations. Not only does it valorize and stimulate the professionalism of operators in Lower Veronese, but it also encourages cooperation among the municipalities.”
For the delight of food lovers, the winning recipes from the four contests will be published in a booklet. Last year, the fair distributed as many as 200,000 Isolana risottos.
“But our goal,” added Giordani, “is not only to showcase our typical rice to a broad audience, within the traditional pavilions of Pra’ Piganzo, but also to create a new image of our product, with unique dishes served elegantly and innovatively at Palazzo Rebotti.”
Solidarity Fair and Social Projects
A particularly significant event will be on October 2, with the “Solidarity and Sharing Fair.” The proceeds from the sale of risottos that evening will be donated to the project “Il Cedro,” which involves renovating a former Ulss building into a shelter for disabled individuals, managed together by the local cooperative “La Scintilla” and the Dossobuono-based association “La Piccola Fraternità.”
Enrico Santi
