Great Spring Tapulonata

A feast centered on Borgomanero's signature dish

The Great Spring Tapulonata is one of the most cherished evenings in the gastronomic calendar of Borgomanero, a town of just over twenty thousand inhabitants in the Upper Piedmont, in the province of Novara. It is organized by the Antica Cunsurtarija dal Tapulon, the brotherhood that has been preserving and promoting local traditions and culture since 2003, starting with the dish that gives the association its name: tapulon.

What is tapulon?

Tapulon is the traditional dish of Borgomanero, officially recognized with the De.Co. (Municipal Designation) in 2020. Legend traces it back to the 12th century: a group of pilgrims returning from Lake Orta, overcome by hunger, supposedly stopped in these lands to feed on their donkey, finely mincing the meat and cooking it for a long time in wine to make it tender. The name comes from the local dialect verb tapulà, meaning to mince finely, referring to the meat preparation technique.

The evening

The Spring Tapulonata is a convivial dinner where tapulon is served according to the traditional recipe, accompanied by polenta and gorgonzola, as well as Piedmontese wines from the Colline Novaresi. It is a community evening, marked by the rituals of the brotherhood: the presentation of the mantelle (capes) to new members and the awarding of lighthearted prizes related to the life of the association. Alongside this spring edition, the Cunsurtarija also organizes the famous Autumn Tapulonata later in the year.

Tradition and solidarity

The 2026 edition had a strong charitable focus: the funds raised during the evening were donated to the Casa della Carità in Borgomanero, managed by the Mamre association, which distributes dozens of meals every day to people in need. It is a way to combine the pleasure of dining and friendship with generosity toward the community.

Why it's worth attending

• An authentic opportunity to taste real tapulon in its birthplace.
• An immersion into the convivial and dialectal culture of Upper Piedmont.
• An evening that weaves together traditional gastronomy, local identity, and solidarity.