Gran Fritto Misto alla Piemontese

A culinary tradition of the Asti Monferrato

The Gran Fritto Misto alla Piemontese is one of the most cherished food and wine events in Calosso, a small town nestled in the Monferrato hills of the Asti province, in the heart of Piedmont. Organized by the Pro Loco of Calosso, the event celebrates a signature dish of regional cuisine: the fritto misto, a rich and complex platter that has represented the joy and conviviality of Piedmontese dining for generations.

The fritto misto, a symbol of Piedmont

The Piedmontese fritto misto is no ordinary fried dish: it is a sequence of sweet and savory morsels that tells the story of the region's rural and bourgeois culture. Meats, offal, seasonal vegetables, amaretti cookies, and sweet semolina are breaded and fried with care, resulting in a dish that requires time, expertise, and lengthy preparation. In Calosso, this culinary ritual is faithfully recreated, keeping alive a gastronomic memory that risks disappearing elsewhere.

The festival menu

The lunch offered by the Pro Loco pairs the fritto misto with a complete menu rooted in local flavors. Recent editions have featured:

• Roasted peppers with bagna caoda, an iconic appetizer of the Asti tradition
• Robiola cheese with onion compote, a fresh local cheese
• Gran fritto misto alla piemontese, the star of the day
• Tiramisu to conclude the meal
• A selection of quality local wines from the Monferrato

A convivial gathering for the town

The event takes place at the Salone Comunale in Calosso and attracts both locals and visitors from the surrounding area in an informal, family-friendly atmosphere. The Pro Loco hosts the initiative both as a lunch during the Carnival season and as a summer evening event, confirming the fritto misto as one of the most anticipated moments of community life in Calosso. Reservations are always mandatory due to the artisanal care required for the preparation.

Calosso and the Asti Monferrato

Calosso is located in one of Piedmont's most renowned wine-growing areas, part of the Monferrato landscape recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Attending the Gran Fritto Misto is therefore not just a gastronomic experience, but also a chance to discover a hillside village and its rural identity, defined by vineyards, traditions, and authentic hospitality.