The trails of taste “Le Vie del Gusto” was a real winner festival. It was held in Borgo San Lorenzo’s nice town centre. Not even the first real bad weather from spring 2017 managed to spoil it. The trails of Taste is also about the flavours, colours and scents of the Mugello food and wine culture. So local flavors, colours and scents but not only that. In fact there were not only the Mugello food and wine flavours on display. Over fifty operators offered street food and street cuisine. Plus, many local small food businesses coming from all over the boot or from far away countries.
Along the streets and alleys of the old town visitors could find the agro-food market mostly of Tuscan farms from the Mugello . In addition, craft workshops where it was possible to taste and buy organic products at zero kilometers. All the agro-food excellence of the territory was exhibited.
The trails of taste is the main initiative to celebrate the Mugello food and wine rich heritage. So the protagonists were the famous potato tortelli, the delicious chianina meats, the loaves prepared in the old wood-burning ovens with antique flours. The excellence of IGP chestnuts, salami, milk, cheeses and honey. Finally homemade jams and marmelates as well as traditional crafts, wine and handmade beer. For the following pictures credits go to www.ilfilo.net
This year’s novelty was the division between a square dedicated to regional gastronomy, and a street in which to find “international cuisines”. Separate space for street food with folkloristic vehicles that carry around the various specialties for Italy. And again shows, show cooking and much more for a whole long weekend especially devoted to the Mugello food and wine tradition.
A very interesting moment was the ice cream contest as a side event to the trails of taste. The competition meant to crown the best gelato flavour entitled to Giotto. In fact this year is the 750th anniversary of the birth of the great architect and painter from Mugello. The competition was promoted by the Mugello Mediceo Association and the Florentine ice cream Association
The first ranked was Edoardo Gelato Biologico right in Piazza Duomo in Florence. He proposed an ice cream different from the others. It was a biscuit with a vinsanto sauce that should have given more sweetness and instead showed only an alcoholic tip which the jury particularly liked.
The flavors of Mugello in the ice cream world were well represented by bar and gelateria Valeri of Luco. Valeri made a classical gelato with an excellent cream of precious walnuts.
Here’s an interesting video on how to make superb pistachio gelato by hand Italian style