"I Gusti Costesi" Gastronomic Festival

A festival of local flavors

The "I Gusti Costesi" Gastronomic Festival takes place in Costa di Ovada, a small hillside hamlet in the municipality of Ovada, in the province of Alessandria, Piedmont. For over a decade, the local S.A.O.M.S. (Società Anonima Operaia di Mutuo Soccorso) has organized this food and wine event, which has grown edition after edition into one of the most cherished summer gatherings in the Ovada area. The concept is as simple as it is timeless: bringing the community together around a good meal while celebrating local traditional recipes.

Regional cuisine

Costa di Ovada is nestled in a picturesque location among the hills bordering Piedmont and Liguria—a region where Piedmontese culinary culture intertwines with influences from the Genoese hinterland. The festival brings this border identity to the table with rich, generous dishes prepared by S.A.O.M.S. volunteers and served at tables in a spacious covered area, perfect even in case of bad weather.

• Stewed stockfish, a symbolic traditional dish linking the Monferrato region to Ligurian cuisine
• Braised goat, a rustic specialty with an intense flavor, the result of long, slow cooking
• Pork shank, the star of the Sunday lunch
• The characteristic focaccino from Costa, one of the most beloved treats for regular visitors

Celebration and conviviality

Beyond the food, "I Gusti Costesi" is above all a meeting point for the residents of Ovada and neighboring towns. The festival is a wonderful opportunity to discover a hamlet often off the beaten tourist path and to savor the authentic hospitality of the communities in the province of Alessandria. The growing success of the initiative, now in its eleventh year, testifies to the local affection for this village feast.

Where to find us

The event takes place at the S.A.O.M.S. headquarters in Costa d'Ovada, a hamlet of the municipality of Ovada, easily accessible from the town of Ovada and the main locations in the Ovadese and Monferrato areas. It is an excellent destination for those looking to combine a trip through the hills with a gastronomic stop dedicated to authenticity.