Every year in Tuscany and Umbria when the new olive oil is pressed, the frantoii organize a small Festa della Bruschetta, a festival for people to come and taste the new oil.  Crusty bread is grilled and rubbed with garlic and then doused with the new green fruity oil then sprinkled with sea salt: the perfect Bruschetta.  Fresh nuovo wine is served along with cheese and seasonal food. This is a great tradition in this part of Italy and people travel from the cities and nearby towns to join in the celebration of the harvest of the new oil.

Several times during our Giro in Italia, the annual trip when we take our several of our chef customers to Italy to experience the harvest and crush, we have been fortunate to be there for the festa. In October of 2006 the festa was entertained by a traditional dance troop from Castiglione del Lago. Check out the videos from the festa on our Select Videos Page.

One of the most whimsical sights we have seen in many a year, is the chestnut roaster used at the festival.  Several years ago, a local inventor came up with this astonishing device: an old front-loading washing machine with a stovepipe cut into its top and a modified switch to allow it to go forward and backward.  A large gas burner is placed under the washer, chestnuts loaded in the front - with a grill replacing the glass door, and presto!  It makes a racket with the chestnuts bouncing around in the metal drum, but it roasts flawless chestnuts.