Assaggi d'Estate – Signature Cuisine

Assaggi d'Estate: Haute cuisine welcomes the summer

Assaggi d'Estate – Signature Cuisine is the food and wine event that inaugurates the summer season in Forte dei Marmi, the fashionable pearl of Versilia in the province of Lucca, Tuscany. Launched in 2025 by local restaurateurs, the festival is organized by the Compagnia della Vela with the patronage and support of the Municipality of Forte dei Marmi, and has quickly established itself as one of the most anticipated gourmet appointments on the coast.

Around twenty chefs and seven Michelin stars

The heart of the event is the tasting trail: for two evenings, about twenty chefs from Forte dei Marmi and the province of Lucca gather to share their creations with the public. Among them are seven Michelin-starred chefs, five of whom have their kitchens right in Forte dei Marmi: a concentration of haute gastronomy rarely found gathered in a single square.

• Gioacchino Pontrelli – Ristorante Lorenzo
• Andrea Mattei – Il Bistrot
• Valentino Cassanelli – Lux Lucis
• Marco Bernardo – La Magnolia
• Alessandro Ferrarini – La Sciabola
• Luca Landi – Lunasia (Viareggio)
• Fabrizio Girasoli – Butterfly (Marlia)

How the tasting works

With an entry coupon, visitors are entitled to six tastings, three of which are special creations from Michelin-starred restaurants, plus a drink. Diners are seated at long tables set up in the square, in a setting designed for conviviality and sharing: signature cuisine leaves the restaurant dining rooms and becomes a collective open-air celebration. The culinary offerings highlight fish and seafood from the Versilia coast, with attention also given to vegetarian options, all accompanied by a selection of local wines.

An event with a charitable purpose

Assaggi d'Estate is not just about taste: the proceeds from the event are donated to charity. Donations support local organizations such as the Croce Verde and the "La Marinara" Marching Band of Forte dei Marmi, which enlivens some evenings with its music. The solidarity dimension and the bond with the local community make the event a moment of togetherness as well as high-end cuisine.

Forte dei Marmi and its fashionable tradition

Set in the town's central squares, the festival is part of the charm of Forte dei Marmi, a location famous for its elegant beaches, the pier, the Thursday market, and a long tradition of luxury hospitality. Assaggi d'Estate captures and showcases the food and wine identity of Versilia, confirming itself as an ideal opportunity to discover the quality of local dining at the beginning of summer. The organizers aim to make it a permanent tradition of the Forte dei Marmi tourist offering.