San Zeno Chestnuts Featured at Soriano Palio and Food Festivals
Chestnut in export format. On Sunday, October 8th, representatives of the “Compagnia de la castagna dei Paladini di Cà Montagna” will be among the five hundred participants dressed in historical costumes at the Soriano nel Cimino Palio parade.
The confraternity of San Zeno di Montagna, led by lawyer Marco Bisagno, who wears the robes of the Grand Paladin, has been officially invited to take part in this grand event in the town of Soriano nel Cimino in the Viterbo area, which for years has maintained collaborative relations with San Zeno di Montagna in the name of their shared chestnut tradition.
For the palio, the medieval village of Soriano is divided into four districts: Papacqua, Rocca, Trinità, and San Giorgio. The procession is magnificent. Performances by the sword fighters from the Rocca district and the flag throwers from Trinità are also highly anticipated.
The symbol of the palio and the chestnut tradition
The symbol of the palio is a gigantic conker of chestnuts: here, chestnut cultivation has ancient origins and was already protected by medieval statutes. Meanwhile, the chestnut, or rather, the typical Marrone of San Zeno di Montagna, is gaining interest also in the national press.
The October issue of “La Cucina Italiana” dedicates eight pages to chestnut cuisine, and its introduction specifically discusses the chestnut of San Zeno. “The appreciation by connoisseurs for this autumn fruit and its many culinary uses,” reads the article signed by Manuela Lazzara, “is evidenced by initiatives such as the recent establishment in San Zeno di Montagna, in the province of Verona, of a confraternity for the promotion of the local Monte Baldo chestnut.”
The role of La Cucina Italiana and initiatives in San Zeno
In the founding of the “Compagnia de la castagna”, the editorial team of “La Cucina Italiana” had already made an important contribution: Toni Cuman, a staff journalist of the magazine, was, in June, the first honorary paladin of the association. Present at the unveiling was also Paola Ricas, director of the prestigious magazine.
“La Cucina Italiana” also mentions the happenings in the restaurateurs of Baldassarre. Between October and November, the magazine recalls, the restaurants of San Zeno “offer historic and creative recipes using this fruit”.
The catering activities and the “San Zeno chestnuts & wine” festival
This year, four restaurants are participating in the “San Zeno chestnuts & wine” festival: alongside the three original members—Costabella, Kus, and Zeno—La Casa degli Spiriti has joined the initiative.
The event, which combines chestnut cuisine with Gardesani wines, is promoted by the Garda Veronese branch of Slow Food, with sponsorship from the Tourism Promotion Agency of the Riviera degli Olivi, the Municipality of San Zeno di Montagna, the Mountain Community of the Baldo, the Monte Baldo chestnut growers association, and the “Compagnia de la castagna”.