Celebrate San Giovanni (June 24 2009) with De Gustibus

That's organic freerange chicken!

For San Giovanni this year – the patron saint of Florence who is celebrated with a city-wide holiday on June 24th – I’m looking forward to celebrating in a totally different way. The usual activity is to motor down the viali to the Arno and get squished next to people in order to watch fireworks. Or if we’re lucky we’re invited to some fancy party up in the hills to watch these fireworks. This year we’re going to (hopefully) make some new friends, perhaps dragging along a few old friends too, at a heartlifting BBQ event organized by De Gustibus. The full invitation is posted below.

UPDATE!! (June 27) After the event – A review and photos!

De Gustibus is an association that promotes sustainable tourism in Tuscany through events and tours. Members have the opportunity to connect with wine and food producers and agriturismo owners through participation in events that almost always center around tasting and learning about some delicious treats. Events are open to everyone, making this a unique way to participate in a movement that interests both tourists and “locals”.

REVIEW: The dinner on June 24th was a HUGE success!! I brought two american friends and we had a blast. We arrived around 7:30 (skipping the kids’ activity of kite making, which seems to have been fun but there was no wind) and admired the view as dusk settled in and the smell of barbecqued meat was tempting us. The rabbit and chickens were tossed onto the grill. The chickens were so big and yellow and they were being cooked to perfection… almost enough to convert me from vegetarianism. This was quantity cooking to the max – the chickens are being grilled on on your average BBQ grill but on a single mattress support.

We claimed seats at a table of 6 and met two lovely ladies who are also part of the De Gustibus association. I was impressed at the beautiful decoration of the tables, with tablecloths, menus, lavendar centerpieces, and real dishes, glassware, and cutlery. I was also very impressed with the turn-out: 120 people!!

Once the food started coming out, it just kept going. This was a seriously good deal for the price. The appetizer buffet was enough to call dinner. There were 4 or 5 different cheeses and 2 meats to sample, with little sauces and honey, and bread toasted on the grill and doused in excellent sharp oil produced at this farm. There was fritatta and panzanella which was ideal for vegetarians. The main course was rabbit and chicken on the grill. Hilarious stories were exchanged as our friends refused to eat rabbit due to their having one as a pet. Chicken was served to much fanfare by the owner of the farm and a friend, using a small pitchfork to fish the meat out of a big pot. All this was washed down by excellent wines of course. Then when you thought you were done, dessert came out and it was irresistable! Beautiful ample baskets of fresh fruit were placed on each table; I saw the kitchen just minutes earlier and saw branches of a cherry tree in the sink, so the fruit could not be more fresh. There were also numerous watermelons cut into big chunks. Two kinds of homemade cake were served still warm from the oven. Just seeing the photos makes me want them again. Our only complaint? The trees had grown so that you could no longer see the fireworks in the distance. Oh well.

It was a seriously memorable night and we all had a great time. I’m thinking I’m going to go to as many De Gustibus events as possible in the future, and i’m not just saying that. What great people, and great food.

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This is the original INVITATION…

WHO:  L’Associazione De Gustibus presents:

WHAT: “Fire and Flyers” (or less literally, kites and fireworks!)

WHERE: Cooperativa Agricola La Fonte, Cercina, Sesto Fiorentino (FI)

WHEN: Wednesday June 24 2009, from 5pm onwards

DESCRIPTION: Come celebrate San Giovanni (patron saint of Florence) day on June 24th in a truly special way at the third annual De Gustibus BBQ at Cooperativa Agricola La Fonte di Cercina. While Florence rushes to the banks of the Arno to watch fireworks, get away from the crowds and watch them from afar where it’s quiet and cool. The cooperative farm is just above the area of Florence called Careggi, on the hills between Florence and Sesto Fiorentino. Anyone who participated in this event in previous years can tell you what a special evening it is in this place that transmits a memorable energy.

Since 1982 the Zorn Family has run this coop along with a group of otherwise-abled young people who participate fully in farm life. The property is immersed in hills covered by olive trees and the farm is mostly dedicated to the production of extra virgin olive oil, although a lot of work-time is dedicated to the many animals raised here – small numbers of each of cows, horses, asses, goats, lambs, chickens, ducks, bees, pigeons, rabbits, and pigs!

This year before dinner, starting at 5pm, there is kite-making with Massimiliano to whom you can give a small donation for materials (you don’t have to bring anything!). At the end if there’s enough wind you’ll fly your kites. After this, there’ll be an aperitif followed by the barbecque, all with a good dose of wine and water.

A note to anyone who has never been to an Italian BBQ: it’s nothing like the North American tradition. Never mind a few burgers, the menu is much more extended and it’s an experience not to be missed. Don’t be afraid to come even though you don’t know anyone, you’ll make new friends.

The menu:

• - Crostini Toscani particular to the region of Cercina
• - La Fettunta (toast with local olive oil)
• - Tasters of locally produced salami and prosciutto (including finocchiona “sbriciolona” from the fratelli Messeri di Pratolino) and pecorino cheeses from De Gustibus producers.
• - La Panzanella (bread salad)
• - On the BBQ: pork, chicken and rabbit raised at this farm
• - A mixed salad
• - Crostata (pie) and Vin Santo
• - White and red Chianti Fiorentino, from various De Gustibus producers.

 Price: 30 euro for members, 35,00 euro for non members who will receive a De Gustibus membership valid for 2009.

IMPORTANT! Our hosts need time to plan, so please RSVP before 6pm of Sunday June 21 by email or phone to: Tommaso Ciabini – 340 5796207 – tommaso@de-gustibus.it OR Donato Iozzelli – 335 1535965 – donato@de-gustibus.it

Directions:

COOPERATIVA AGRICOLA LA FONTE, VIA DELLA CASINA, 2 – 50019, CERCINA, SESTO FIORENTINO
TEL. 055 402334 –  www.lafontecercina.org

Use google maps to find precise location and directions.

Park in piazza Pieve di S. Andrea a Cercina and go on foot until via della Casina. The events will take place at the yellow farmhouse about 100 meters away.