Welcome to Sagraitalia.com 

Sagraitalia is an exciting new concept in the promotion of small local markets and food events in London, the South East and East Anglia, whilst also promoting Italian fine food produced in the many varied Italian regions. Among the mainly organic produce on offer is extra virgin olive oil  from Le Marche, Umbria and Sicily, pasta from the south of Italy, cheeses, proscuito, pastes and natural, organic and biodynamic wines as well as a host of other delicious products.  We hold Italian themed parties, cooking demonstrations and food events where you can savour the delights of Italian cuisine and lifestyle, as well as a chance to meet many of the producers in person.

Sagraitalia also showcases produce from the Libera Terra organisation which is based in the south of Italy and produces fine wines, olive oil, pasta, marmalades, passata, all made by small local groups and communities on land confiscated from the Mafia and organised crime by the Italian State. We also arrange holidays and educational visits to the farms, olive groves, vineyards and agriturismi in Sicily, Puglia, Calabria and other regions in the south of Italy which are run by Libera Terra.
SAGRA in Italia                                                                     

Italy evokes many senses.....its unparalleled architecture, art and culture, style, landscape and its exquisite food of course.  Italians take their food very seriously, so much so that they hold special food festivals or "Sagras", from spring through to autumn every year.  Sagre vary from village to village, town to town and region to region and of course the season.  The food is always authentic, fresh and cooked with passion and without doubt, a culinary speciality.    
 
Sagre take many forms from a spring sagra such as lamb and artichokes to fish, pasta, fruit and dessert festivals of summer which also include meat sagre, bistecca and wild boar.... to the wonderful taste of autumn with olive oil, mushroom and truffles, chestnuts, and wine of course.  All celebrating the earth's bounty through the seasons of the year. 
 
We hope to bring you a delicious slice of authentic Italian food sagre in the UK, focusing mainly on London, the home counties and the east of England. The associates involved in the sagre organised by Sagraitalia are mainly Italian and all of them are from very different regions of Italy, from Veneto in the north to Puglia in the south. This allows us to produce food and wine events which reflect the authentic flavour of the diverse regions of Italy.

SAGRAITALIA VENUES                                                  

All the venues that Sagraitalia uses for events, dinners and parties are specially chosen by our associates to compliment fully the Italian theme for that occasion. Venues vary in size from small and friendly bars, deli's and tasting rooms through to large barns holding seating over 120 people and restaurants, with function rooms catering for up to 200.

Sagraitalia works closely with many very talented chefs, wine importers, cheese retailers and party organisers to make sure that our  sagra are truly memorable occasions. Some of our most successful and fun events and evenings were held at such different venues as the Market Quarter in Elizabeth St, Belgravia,London, Creake Abbey Studios Barns in Burnham Market, Norfolk and The Studio in Hackney, London. Other venues include the FARM shop in Dalston, London, Market Bistro in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, The Hive in Hampstead, London, The Forum in Norwich, St Benedicts restaurant, Norwich and Browns Farm shop and Kitchen , Mundford, Norfolk.

We are always on the look out for suitable new venues and recently we have also been co operating with a wonderful new Hotel in the Le Marche region of Italy, Essentia Relais near Marina di Montemarciano just north of Ancona. Sagraitalia will be offering many more wonderful locations and events throughout London, the East of England and in Italy in 2012 and beyond.


Creake Abbey Barn in Norfolk


 

A TASTE OF ITALY                                                             

ESSENTIA RELAIS in LE MARCHE, ITALY. 

Hotel in Le Marche

ESSENTIA RELAIS  will be one of the venues in Italy that Sagraitalia will be using for our Italian based events in 2012 and beyond. The hotel is part of the Essentia group which is based just north of the Le Marche regions Capital at Ancona, the hotel being situated between the Adriatic resorts of Marina di Montemarciano and the beautiful town of Senigallia.

The hotel offers its visitors and guests a truly memorable experience as it has just reopened after an extensive refurbishment and conversion by the new owners. The whole feel and ambience of the hotel is contemporary and decorated throughout in a relaxed style, there are also meeting and function rooms offering businesses a complete service. In 2012 Sagraitalia hope to organise several food and tourism related events at Essentia and also offer our clients special offers on holidays and visits to this part of the Le Marche region.


 


INTRODUCING                .........                    OLIVAVERDE 

Olivaverde are passionate about promoting Extra virgin olive oil, pasta, cheeses and locally sourced foods produced by small farmers and artisans in the regions of central and southern Italy, especially the regions of Le Marche, Umbria, Tuscany and Puglia. Our aim to foster the appreciation and enjoyment of fine Extra virgin olive oil and other produce made in these regions and also to also educate a wider public about the benefits, differences and taste of olive oils from the varying regions.  Please take a look at our site for more in depth information at www.olivaverde.co.uk which is part of the growing Livinginlemarche property group www.livinginlemarche.com   Olivaverde with Sagraitalia are also pleased to be working with many Farmers markets and organic food shops in the east of England and London to bring the great local food and fine olive oil from the lesser known regions of Italy to a wider public in the UK. This also includes starting a new Slow Food convivium in the East of England to promote locally produced food and hope that this will also allow us to hold many food orientated events and cookery demonstrations in some great venues. 

As well as offering fine extra virgin olive oil and pasta from Italy and other parts of the Mediterranean region, Olivaverde, can now offer olive oil and wine appreciation tours, cookery courses and culinary holidays in four very different regions of Italy, Le Marche, Umbria, Tuscany and Puglia.   Furthermore, clients would have the chance to meet our Italian friends and producers who provide all these wonderful products and enable them to experience first hand the hospitality, knowledge and love of fine extra virgin olive oils, wines and pasta.

 

 








 

              BUON ANNO 2012 !

 Umbria:    Feast of SAN VALENTINO     Winter

Cioccolentino:    San Valentino Chocolate Festival, Terni

  
From: Friday 10 February 2012 To: Tuesday 14 February 2012
The five-day festival celebrating chocolate, the art of the pastry-making and of course St. Valentine's Day, where the infamous Saint  was born in Terni and became a martyr for the cause of true love, having married a pagan to a Christian.  
 The town of Terni in Umbria is swamped with people across the globe on St. Valentine's Day, whether renewing their vows or to visit the place of true love, is an event that cannot be missed.     Master chocolate makers reproduce the architectural landmarks of Terni, including a 100kg rendition of the Torrone di Colleluna. 

THE FEAST OF EPIPHANY                Italian Traditions  

The Feast of the Epiphany,celebrated January 6 is a national holiday in Italy, and the tradition of La Befana are a big part of Italian Christmas celebrations. Epiphany commemorates the 12th day of Christmas when the three Wise Men arrived at the manger bearing gifts for Baby Jesus. he traditional Christmas holiday season in Italy lasts through Epiphany.

La Befana 

Italy's traditional celebration includes the tale of a witch known as La Befana who arrives on her broomstick during the night of January 5 and fills the stockings with toys and sweets for the good children and lumps of coal for the bad ones. 

According to the legend, the night before the Wise Men arrived at the manger they stopped at the shack of an old woman to ask directions. They invited her to come along but she replied that she was too busy. Then a shepherd asked her to join him but again she refused. Later that night, she saw a great light in the sky and decided to join the Wise Men and the shepherd bearing gifts that had belonged to her child who had died. She got lost and never found the manger.

Now La Befana flies around on her broomstick each year on the 11th night, bringing gifts to children.  Children hang their stockings on the evening of January 5 awaiting the visit of La Befana.   Piazzas throughout Italy see the arrival of Befana fly from the rooftops and children eagerly await her arrival for all sweet things. 

 CARNEVALE FESTIVAL                                                     

After celebrations of Christmas and New Year, Carnevale follows closely on its heels and lasts virtually a month long.  Carnevale in Italy is a huge winter festival celebrated with parades, masquerade balls, entertainment, music, and parties. Children throw confetti at each other. Mischief and pranks are also common during Carnevale, hence the saying A Carnevale Ogni Scherzo Vale, anything goes at carnivalaschere, are an important part of thecarnevale festival and Venice is the best city for traditional carnival masks.

Carnival masks are sold year round and can be found in many shops in Venice, ranging from cheap masks to elaborate and expensive masks. Walking through the streets of Venice, it's a pleasure to view the variety of masks on display in shop windows. People also wear elaborate costumes for the festival and there are costume or masquerade balls, both private and public.  

Sweet Carnevale Food

Ancient origins of Carnevals dates back to Roman times and in latin "Carnevale" literally is "removal of meat" and of course a religiious  festival.leading up to Lent.and so a sumptuous feast would take place before.  

Frittelle di Carnevale or Carnival Fritters are one of the oldest Italian traditions in every region.  Fried pastries are still the stars of Mardi Gras.  Spoonfuls of dough fried in oil take the shape of small balls in Frittelle di Carnevale.  There are also frappe in all mouth-watering varieties, dipped in honey and cinammon, raspberry, chocolate, apple, the list goes on.

 

LATEST BUZZ.....                          WINE NEWS      

WINES FROM SELEZIONE ZANOTTO
We have some exciting news literally from the grapevine......That currently  Sagraitalia is working closely with Selezione Zanotto of London to provide our clients and also our Sagra events with some of the best wines available from Italy.  Selezione Zanotto is based in the Veneto region of Italy and now in north London in the UK and they aim to bring to the UK some of the best wines from the north and other parts of Italy.
One of their aims is to promote small artisan producers of natural and organic wines including a wonderful range of natural Prosecco. Stefano Milani is the director and representative in London and the UK while a director in Italy is focused on sourcing exciting new wines for their constantly expanding range of fine wines.
Stefano has worked closely with Sagraitalia for some time and we are pleased to be able to use his services at some of the events we have used in 2011 and look forward to his continued assistance in 2012 and beyond. http://www.zanotto.co.uk/