The long weekend, 17-18-19 May , is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the coastal town and good cuisine
The Sagra
Now in its seventh edition, the Sagra del Pilau Calasettano promises to be full of events and ready to welcome lovers of traditional cuisine. Authenticity and history remain the cornerstones of this three-day event which boasts ever-increasing public attendance. The calendar shows numerous occasions for conviviality and entertainment as well as attention to the protagonist: pilau : the fragrant dry fish soup, composed of fregula cooked in a shellfish-based sauce.
<< With immense pride we present the seventh edition of the Pilau festival. The result is the result of the continuous commitment of the administration, aimed exclusively at the well-being of the country, of the great, constant and competent collaboration of the municipal offices and of some volunteers, demonstrating the fact that if everyone looks towards a single goal and gets together the ideas, the same, it can be achieved more easily and with more satisfaction >> these are the proud words of the Mayor of Calasetta, Claudia Mura , who expresses the enthusiasm for the renewed event with authentic flavours.
Here visitors will be able to enjoy concerts, DJ sets, market exhibitions, show cooking,
guided tastings and pleasant evenings in the charming village of the island.
The program
The three days of the Pilau Festival are well organized so that lovers of good food and the curious can find in this seventh edition the (re)discovery of tradition and the fun to share. The event is open to a more varied audience, in addition to tourists, adults, young people and families will appreciate the various initiatives on the calendar, coordinated by proloco and various associations such as SSD Basket, Ancilla Domini and Marinai d'Italia.
Here, throughout the weekend you will be able to visit museums and exhibitions for a cultural perspective, such as the Torre Sabauda archaeological museum curated by the MACC Foundation and the MACC itself, just to name a few.
There will be numerous activities, especially sports, put on the field. Among them is the Basketball Tournament cat. female and male debutants by SSD Basket Calasetta which will be held on Friday afternoon; again the Zonal O'pen Skiff Regatta organized by the Italian Naval League of Sulcis throughout the day on Sunday. The rich program of sporting events, located in the dedicated village on the seafront, are open to the public and unmissable for those who love outdoor activities.
The Friday evening will be animated by the live music of MOSES in concert and, to follow, the DJ sets of leading figures in the current panorama: DJ Albo and the very young and promising DJ Michelle (specializing in 80s/90s rhythm) will take to the stage /2000 and already in great demand both in Italy and abroad), with them DJ Alessandro Toky , famous presence of RTL, Radio 105 and now of Virgin Radio, which has a special bond with Sardinia. On Saturday it will be the turn of the musical show by Ratapignatta and L'armeria dei Briganti, on Sunday we will have fun with Pino & gli Anticorpi .
During the three days, play and entertainment workshops for children, conferences and distribution in Piazza del Pilau, excursions on nature walks will alternate. On Saturday appointment with Il Pilau in my way, a gastronomic competition, with awards ceremony in the evening, on Sunday morning it is repeated with the show-cooking of two exceptional chefs: Alessandra Nioi (from the experience of Masterchef10, now private chef, food blogger) and Daniele Cui (Masterchef6, now personal chef) who will present to the public their personal variation of the main dish Pilau, bringing a breath of freshness and imagination to Piazza Belly , the beating heart of the event. Both days dedicated to food will be hosted by the eclectic Tuscan TV chef Simone Rugiati .
And much more in the program (available on www.sagradelpilau.com ).
King Pilau
Originally prepared by the ancestors of the Calasetta population, the coral fishermen of Ligurian origin, Pilau is known for being a dish rich in history and cultural ties that was imported from the Tunisian island of Tabarka and its name derives from the Turkish Pilaou which means boiled rice. This humble dish, which the fishermen prepared with the leftovers of their catch, has been handed down over time, becoming a symbol of the culinary tradition of Calasetta and increasingly sought after for its taste. Precisely its evolution has led the inhabitants of the area to prefer the fregula, and not the Ligurian pasta (of the traditional recipe), to combine it with the delicious sauce, prepared with the sea cicada (now a protected species) and the spider crab (known as the sea goat), with the addition of lobster: thus creating a perfect symphony between the Tabarchine and Sardinian cuisine.
The importance of this ancient recipe for the entire community is demonstrated by the fact that the Pilau trademark is being registered with the Ministry of Economic Development.
During the festival , Pilau will be celebrated in its most authentic flavor with cooking competitions and tastings in the historic center.
Calasetta
White reigns supreme in this village, so much so that Calasetta is called La Bianca. Its history begins in 1769, when approximately thirty-eight families of coral (later tuna) fishermen, originally from Pegli but coming from the Tabarka island, already founders of Carloforte , asked King Carlo Emanuele to also populate the northern coast of ' island of Sant'Antioco . And so the one hundred and thirty settlers from Tabarchi settled in Cala de Seda , opposite the island of San Pietro , along the coastal routes used by tuna fish. The wind blows in Calasetta and its soft sand remains imprinted, the coast is low and the crystalline green waters make every visitor fall in love.
