This year, CLAI will once again be a key player with numerous events at Baccanale 2022, the traditional food, wine, and cultural festival organized by the Municipality of Imola. For over thirty years, it has been among the most anticipated autumn events, not only for the host city. For this edition, which will take place from October 22nd to November 13th, the theme chosen is seemingly classic, but it's rich in nuances and potential interpretations, such as "Stuffed."
« The Baccanale represents a moment of great celebration for the entire Imola area and its human, associative and entrepreneurial fabric – underlines Giovanni Bettini , President of CLAI –. For 60 years, CLAI has been committed every day to ensuring that taste, flavors, respect for traditions, and the pursuit of the highest quality and food safety contribute to fully enhancing the cultural identity of its local area. The Baccanale, an event dedicated specifically to food culture, represents one of the occasions where the fruits of this daily commitment can emerge most powerfully through moments of meeting, sharing, reflection, and fun. Among the numerous initiatives launched by our Cooperative to make the 2022 edition even more special, I am pleased to highlight the presentation of the work that represents a lucid analysis of the Accounts Book by a leading artist of the Imola Renaissance, Gentile Fornarini, curated with great dedication and commitment by scholar Carmen Ravanelli Guidotti . For the next Baccanale, various types of events will be planned to maximize participation: being together and meeting is, in fact, the best way for any community to grow and prosper .
And so, as anticipated by President Bettini, the varied range of initiatives conceived by CLAI for the Baccanale begins with the relaunch of a popular experience like that of the " Baccanale in Villa ." On Saturday, November 5, 2022, at 4:00 p.m., in the Multipurpose Room of Villa La Babina (the CLAI Management Center) in Sasso Morelli di Imola, the presentation of the editorial work will take place. Gentile Fornarini, painter and potter from Faenza – Life and work in the account book of a Renaissance master , edited by Carmen Ravanelli Guidotti for the publishing house La Mandragora of Imola.
In addition to the President, the following will be present: John Bettini , Carmen Ravanelli Guidotti , curator of the work, and Massimo Montanari , from the University of Bologna. This will be followed by the tasting "Notes of taste and pleasure", introduced by Pietro D'Angeli , General Manager of CLAI. The event is free, but reservations are required by November 3rd at segreteria@clai.it.
During the Baccanale, the CLAI Cooperative, which values a sense of belonging to its local area as one of its key strengths, will offer a tasting of cured meats that best represent the heritage and tradition of its production; controlled from field to table. From Friday, November 11th to Sunday, November 13th, CLAI will be present at the "Tasting Stand for Wines and Agri-food Products from Imola and Olimola" (organized by the Baccanale at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Racetrack in Imola) with " Make a Pit Stop of Goodness ": three evenings in the CLAI space dedicated to flavor with the "Casa CLAI Tasting Platter" and the display and sale of CLAI and Zuarina cured meats, Faggiola cheeses, and "Podere Pratale" EVOO. It will also be an opportunity to visit the exhibition " A Unique Cooperative Experience ," created to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Cooperative's founding.
CLAI's program is truly rich. " The theme of this year's Bacchanal has stimulated our imagination – he confirms Lorenzo Ravidà , Manager of the Macellerie del Contadino sales point in Riolo Terme and coordinator of CLAI events –. The world of fillings, on the other hand, engages us closely and already projects us into the splendid atmosphere of Christmas. Let's think of roast beef, one of the typical dishes of this holiday, a gastronomic symbol of the concept of family and the desire to be together. Furthermore, it is a dish that requires time and must be prepared in advance, thus allowing us to give free rein to the natural desire for conviviality that resides within each of us even before serving it at the table .
Particularly active during the Baccanale will therefore be the Farmer's Butchers, the Cooperative's excellent points of sale present in the area that make experience, hospitality, and quality the cornerstones of their customer relationships. And the Baccanale event confirms this vocation for socializing and conviviality, but also the pleasure of tasting seemingly secondary typical products such as "ripieni", which actually occupy a central position in dishes, enriching them with flavor and appeal. And they will be among the protagonists of " Ripieni, Rotoli e Arrosti ", the Cooking School The workshop will be held on Friday, November 11th, from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM, and Saturday, November 12th and Sunday, November 13th, from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM, at the Multipurpose Room of Villa La Babina in Sasso Morelli, Imola. The maximum number of participants per session is 12 (36 total), and the cost is €25 per participant (the registration fee includes an apron, hat, and kitchen towel, along with your own uncooked preparations). Under the guidance of CLAI chefs, cooking instructors, and food experts, each participant will create the ideal filling for various cuts of meat, using twelve fully equipped workstations and all the necessary ingredients. It will be an opportunity to stimulate the creativity, imagination, and taste memory of cooking enthusiasts.
Reservations are required and must be made by Thursday, November 10th at Macellerie del Contadino stores or by emailing segreteria@clai.it.
The return of the " Stages of Taste ," temporary showcases in Imola's main squares celebrating local products, following the Bacchanal theme, will also give the CLAI Macellerie del Contadino (Contadino Butchers) an opportunity to further contribute to this major Imola event. Specifically, the Vicolo Inferno store will be hosting " A Stage Filled with Taste " from Tuesday, October 25th to Sunday, October 30th, from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm in Piazza Dell'Ulivo in Imola. This free event offers educational entertainment, with animations and games related to the Bacchanal theme. Free tastings of delicious stuffed cooked foods prepared by the chefs of the CLAI Macellerie del Contadino will be available.
It's not over yet. « For the Farmer's Butchers – adds Ravidà – The Baccanale is always a golden opportunity to meet our most loyal customers and intrigue new ones, even making them the protagonists of their shopping: during the Baccanale period, they will be able to decide, if they want, which meats to pair with the different fillings. We want to maximize the level of customization of our offerings to meet everyone's tastes ." For the entire duration of the Baccanale 2022, the " The Filling I Would Like " promotion will be active at CLAI Macellerie del Contadino stores during store opening hours: roasts, rolls, and stuffed poultry will be available at a single special price and in a dedicated space, staffed by CLAI staff, where, directly at the moment of purchase, each customer can have their chosen product stuffed with their favorite filling.
