DATE TO BE ADVISED.

3 hour lunch from Midday to 3pm, 6 courses

Menu: Antipasto | Tuscan Bean Soup | Penne a Boscaiola | Veal Scallopini | Insalata | Tiramisu
lotsa bread, coffee and good company

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“Slow Food is the intersection of ethics and pleasure, of ecology and gastronomy. On the one hand, it counters the standardization of taste, the power of agro-industrial multinationals and the folly of fast life; on the other, it wishes to restore pleasure to food and the slow rhythms of conviviality to the table.

The original movement, born in my hometown of Bra, in northern Italy, reflected a Latin approach to conviviality and eating pleasure easily accessible to other Italians, Spaniards, French, Portuguese, and so on. Food has traditionally been part and parcel of socialization down the Italian peninsula, and my town was the perfect incubator for a movement that sought to acknowledge its value.”

Italian Slow Food founder Carlo Petrini

Italians, for centuries, have understand that food is best when it’s fresh, plentiful and eaten in the company of those we love. So, celebrate in style by inviting family and friends to share this delicious feast.

The 6 courses will start with the traditional antipasto. Antipasto, or antipasti, means "before the meal" and is the traditional first course of a formal Italian meal. It will cured meats, olives, anchovies, sundried tomatoes and various cheeses. The antipasto will be topped off with olive oil.

Next will be the ‘big’ soup, minestrone. Minestrone originally was a very humble dish and was intended for everyday consumption, being filling and cheap, and would likely have been the main course of a meal. Minestrone is part of what is known in Italy as cucina povera (literally "poor kitchen") meaning poorer people's cuisine.

Of course no Italian meal is complete without a pasta dish. On this occasion it will be pasta e piselli (peas), country style.

With the theme of a camp oven weekend the next course of bistecca (steak) a la pizzaiola (Italian tomato sauce) will be slow cooked.

Of course this is all topped off with a fresh green leaf salad and dressing, lots of bread and condiments.

Finally the sweet is the famous tiramisu as prepared by the famous Tonittos Cakes in Port Kembla. Tiramisu’ means “pick-me-up” in Italian, for the high energetic content (eggs and sugar) and the caffeine of the strong espresso coffee.

The courses will be served every 30 minutes and will be sprinkled musica Italiana with entertainment by Zumpa and friends.

Davide De Santi, Illawarra Folk Festival Director, will lead a band of 10 plus musicians who will play old Italian songs and tunes such as Bella Ciao, Reginella Campagnola, Ciuccio, O Saracino, Comme Faccette Mammette, Funiculi Funicula, Tarantellas, I Guaglione, Tammuriata Nera and many other tunes.

The food will be prepared and served by volunteers from the Italian Social Welfare Organisation of Wollongong (It.So.Wel). The organisation is committed to delivering a range of culturally and linguistically appropriate services that empower the community to increase their quality of life, and the promotion of Italian culture, language and heritage.

Further information: David De Santi, 0409 57 1788, desanti@bigpond.com