Food. There might not be anything else that embodies and defines Italian culture and local identity like food. It’s something talked about with fiery passion, a daily ritual that is more sacred than routine, a placeholder of cultural expression for the tiniest hamlet and the largest city…it’s the heart and soul of Italy. It also might be the answer to reviving Italy’s dying villages. 

Food is something celebrated daily in Italy. Fresh, seasonal, prepared with passion and love, and always shared with those cared about. If it’s a daily liturgy, why would there be any need for a set-apart celebration specific to a particular food item? The reasons are many. However, one stands out – a feasible means of reviving and revitalizing Italy’s depopulated villages.