With just 543 inhabitants, Siddi has been synonymous with agri-food culture for years—good food, but also the philosophy and ethics of well-being. That's why the countdown has begun for many enthusiasts: from September 19th to 21st, the eighteenth edition of Appetitosamente, the regional festival of good food, will take place. Lavishly laid tables, exhibitions, workshops, and discussions are complemented by a program of performances this year, featuring highlights from Simone Cristicchi, Dario Vergassola, the Balentes, Riccardo Pittau, and Federico Quaranta. But the real highlights are the events, including the preview of the book "Enciclopedia enogastronomica della Sardegna" (Food and Wine Encyclopedia of Sardinia), the roundtable discussion "I segreti della longevità" (The Secrets of Longevity), and, finally, the workshop "Le cucine di Babele" (The Kitchens of Babel).
The go
The three-day event kicks off on Friday the 19th at 5:30 pm with official greetings in Piazza Da Vinci. At 6:00 pm, the "Food and History" dialogue begins with Marco Pisanu, Pierluigi Montalbano, Claudia Zedda, Betty Di Bernardo, and Antonio Furesi. At 8:00 pm, Semjai: a propitiatory sowing ritual with shaman-sowers, drums directed by Marco Serra, Riccardo Pittau on trumpet, and Antonella Puddu reciting, based on an idea by Mariano Corda and Emilio Lieto Ortu. At 8:30 pm, the inauguration of "In-Material Culture": works by Mariano Corda and the Siddi community. At 10:00 pm, the Franco Oppo Sardinian Regional Orchestra will perform music by Mozart and Vivaldi in the Parish Church.
In the heart
Saturday the 20th begins at 10:00 a.m. with "Nella pancia di Pinocchio" by Betti Pau (in the tree-lined area of the Church of San Michele). At 10:30 a.m. at the former Managu hospital, there will be a presentation of Giovanni Fancello's book "Grazia Deledda e il cibo: Da Omero ai oggi" (Grazia Deledda and Food: From Homer to the Present Day), with readings by Stefano Resmin. At 11:30 a.m. at Casa Steri, there will be a workshop "I'm Cool!!!" with Gianmario Mallica, Pierluigi Carreras, and Fabrizio Fenu. At 3:30 p.m. at Casa Pau, there will be a workshop "Seada's Story" with Giovanni Fancello, Gabriela Pitzianti, and the Coriccheddos association. At 6:00 p.m. at the Tomb of the Giants Sa Domu 'e s'Orcu, there will be a concert by Simone Cristicchi, "Dalle tenebre alla luce" (From Darkness to Light), with Riccardo Corso, Riccardo Ciaramellari, and Giuseppe Tortora. At 9:00 p.m., there will be a dinner "Aggiungi un posto a tavola" (Add a Place at the Table) hosted throughout the city center. At 10:00 PM, in Piazza Da Vinci, there's a concert by the Balentes band "Armonie Gourmet" featuring Pamela Lorico, Stefania Liori, and Federica Putzolu, accompanied by Pierpaolo Liori, Antonio Pisano, Fabrizio Lai, and Fabio Useli. At 11:00 PM, at the former Pastificio Puddu, there's a "Che stile!" event with Corrado Casula, historical witnesses, tastings, and music. At midnight, there's a DJ set by Tony C. in San Michele Park.
Grand finale
On Sunday the 21st, the alarm will ring at 6:30 a.m., with "Breakfast at... the Ogre!" featuring a live performance by Maestro Cristian Marcia and the Meras Notas Ensemble at the Tomba di Giganti. At 10 a.m. at Casa Pau, there will be a workshop entitled "Semolina Rolls: Fregula and Mediterranean Relatives" with Roberta Muscas and Chiara Cogotti. At 10:30 a.m. at the Ex Ospedale Managu, a preview of Alessandra Guigoni's "Food and Wine Encyclopedia of Sardinia" with publisher Carlo Delfino. At 1:30 p.m. at Casa Pau, a "Club Méditerranée" themed lunch with Chiara Cogotti and Corrado Casula. At 3:30 p.m. at Casa Steri, a workshop entitled "The Secrets of Longevity" with Pierpaolo Sedda and Laura Moleri. At 5 pm at Casa M, "The Kitchens of Babel" conversations with Paulina Herrera, Anais Cancino, and Silviya Nedelcheva, coordinated by Alessandra Guigoni. At 6:30 pm in the churchyard of San Michele, "A Host Among the Firsts" talk with Federico Quaranta, presented by Corrado Casula. At 8 pm at Parco San Michele, "Life in Single Portions" monologue by Daniela Vitellaro, with an exhibition by Pagno and music by DJ Gavy. At 8:30 pm in Piazza Da Vinci, "Eat as You Parl" tasting by the Pro Loco, followed at 10 pm by "Disconcerting Stories" by Dario Vergassola. At midnight, the event closes with "Saludi e Trigu." Appetitosamente is organized by the Municipality and Pro Loco, the Appetitosamente Committee, and the Villa Silli cooperative, with a large number of associations and volunteers.