Sagra is the Italian word for Food Festival. What can you expect to find when you go? Normally it is a group of locals in the Pro Loco (which means local promotional agency) who get together and prepare a menu with a theme. The money earned in these events is dedicated to buying things for the town folk or setting up parks and play area for the children.
So what does this mean for the average tourist? You will forever see florescent colored posters in the Tuscan countryside talking about Sagra, Sagra, Sagra.You're probably curious - but who knows what you will find when you actually walk into the town. For starters, if it is well known sagra on the regional level, you are very likely to compete with the locals for a place at a table. Tourist don't usually venture in this area - and they definitely miss out on a good meal at excellent prices all for a good cause. Not to mention the peak at a part of the "real" Toscana.
Also commonly defined as a local festival, very often involving food, and frequently a historical pageant and sporting events: when the sporting event is a historical recreation as well, such as a joust or a horse race in costume or armour.
In most cases there is a lunch and a dinner menu - but it helps if you can read the poster for the times (you don't need to know Italian for that)
When you arrive you will find a menu tacked to the wall, you place an order at the cash register, then pay and they give you a ticket. You are then ushered into a large general eating area where everyone shares the tables - and the food starts coming out!
It is charactized by the friendly environment with home cooked food. You will often children and young adults serving and cleaning tables while their Moms, Dads and Grandparents in the kitchen washing, peeling, frying and dishing it up.
You will normally find menus which highlight either a special ingredient or a special recipe from that area - like truffles, fritelle, olive oil, tortelli and much much more. In a land where food and religion are on the same level - you will find that the number of choices will overwhelm you.
More useful information can be found at Italia Mia guide to Italy and its products
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