Country Food Festival

A journey into the flavors of peasant tradition

The Country Food Festival is a food and wine event in Fossacesia, in the province of Chieti, that brings the flavors of Abruzzese peasant culture back to the table. The setting is one of the most evocative in all of Abruzzo: the Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere, a Benedictine complex overlooking the sea and the Costa dei Trabocchi, which becomes the natural stage for the festival with its olive groves and terraces.

The snacks of yesteryear

The theme of the festival is the peasant spuntino (snack), the break that punctuated the long days of work in the fields: simple, genuine food, cooked with local ingredients but bursting with flavor. Eight local agri-food producers host as many gastronomic stations featuring iconic dishes of the Frentano tradition:

• homemade pasta with traditional sauces;
• pallotte cace e ove, the famous cheese and egg dumplings;
• pizza scime, the traditional Abruzzese unleavened bread;
• fried vegetables and peppers with eggs and tomatoes;
• five-grain bread with panzanella;
• pesto made with oil produced from the Abbey's own lands.

Completing the experience are the wines from Cantina Frentana and the champagnino stand, a drink made of white wine and soda, typical of old country taverns.

An eco-friendly setting

The Country Food Festival pays great attention to atmosphere: the rustic setup uses eco-friendly materials for plates, glasses, and cutlery, while hay bales serve as seating for guests. The result is a convivial and authentic experience that combines the discovery of the Abbey's historical heritage with the pleasure of good country cooking.

A local project

The event is organized by the Made in Fossacesia Association in collaboration with Slow Food Lanciano and with the patronage of the Municipality of Fossacesia and the Province of Chieti. Created to promote local food excellence and producers, the festival is part of the rich summer calendar of Bellestate, which brings Fossacesia to life every year from June to October between the sea, the hills, and cultural sites.