Bagna Cauda Day

Bagna Cauda Day: A widespread celebration in the heart of Piedmont

Bagna Cauda Day is the gastronomic event that celebrates the most iconic dish of the Asti and Piedmontese tradition every autumn: bagna cauda, a warm dip made from garlic, extra virgin olive oil, and anchovies, perfect for dunking seasonal vegetables. Born in Asti in 2013 on the initiative of the Astigiani APS association and its namesake magazine, the event has grown into a widespread festival involving over 150 venues, including restaurants, taverns, country trattorias, historic cellars, and farmhouses.

For two weekends in November, the Municipality of Asti and the entire Province of Asti become the beating heart of a massive collective feast. The organizational headquarters are in Asti, at Via San Martino 2, on the corner of Corso Alfieri, but the celebration radiates throughout Piedmont. In recent years, it has even crossed national borders with twin tables in cities like Shanghai, New York, London, and Tokyo, turning a local ritual into a globally recognized symbol of conviviality.

How it works: The same menu in every venue

The formula is simple and democratic: from Michelin-starred restaurants to country trattorias, the menu price is the same everywhere. For 30 euros, guests are guaranteed a seat at the table and a generous portion of bagna cauda served with plenty of vegetables; local DOC and DOCG wines are available for 15 euros per bottle. To guide diners, each venue uses a traffic light system to signal their version of the recipe: red (the classic recipe, "as God intended"), yellow (the "heretical" version with milder garlic), and green (the "atheist" version, without garlic).

Alongside the base menu, many venues offer the Bagna Sovrana, a complete culinary journey centered around the main dish, and the Finale in gloria, a scrambled egg cooked in the fujot and often enriched with truffles. Reservations are made directly through the participating venues, which can be viewed on the official website in the "I locali" section.

An event that goes beyond the table

Bagna Cauda Day is not just a gastronomic appointment; it is a cultural and charitable project. Collateral initiatives include Bagna alla Lavagna, an educational program in Asti schools dedicated to food heritage and changing dietary habits; Bagna Pax, charity dinners organized with the diocesan Caritas; and Bagna della Merla, the winter extension of the event held between late January and early February. A portion of the proceeds supports local environmental projects, such as the Bosco degli Astigiani, a reforestation area in the Viatosto district.

Participating in Bagna Cauda Day means experiencing the authentic Piedmont: a land of shared tables, local dialects, the wines of the Langhe and Monferrato, and a dish that, more than any other, captures the convivial spirit of the people of Asti.