FASTER PASTA: Kids compete in last year’s spaghetti-eating competition at Gunnedah’s annual Porchetta Day.
WITH traditional Italian treats such as home-made lasagna, wood-fired pizza and all the gelato flavours under the sun, you may be forgiven for refusing dinner after spending the day in Gunnedah on Saturday.
The town’s annual Porchetta Day is on again at the showgrounds, with all the sights, sounds and tastes of a Italian village designed to celebrate Gunnedah’s rich migrant heritage.
Under the grove of ornamental olive trees, which have helped nickname the grounds “Little Tuscany”, crowds of up to 5000 are expected to come along and join the fun.
“Porchetta Day is now firmly ensconced on Gunnedah’s social and cultural calendars as one of our community’s blue-ribbon events,” former Gunnedah mayor Adam Marshall said.
Mr Marshall said the event brought large numbers of visitors to Gunnedah and helped generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in the community.
Mr Marshall said the world-famous Pasticceris Papa cheesecake must be tasted to be believed, and quickly, as it sold out each year, and that he was looking forward to sampling the wide array of wonderful foods on offer.
Spreading out the picnic rug, people can enjoy not only the locally grown produce of the Namoi Valley, but music, wine and fun activities for the whole family.
If popular Italian pastime bocce doesn’t take your fancy, maybe the spaghetti-eating competition, with contestants lining up to win the crown of the fastest fork in the North West, will encourage your competitive streak.
A new stage has been added this year that’s designed to showcase the best of the kids’ entertainment, including music, magic and pizza-making.
The Gunnedah Conservatorium has been practising traditional Italian wedding dance the tarantella and will perform it on the day, along with a selection of songs.
One of Gunnedah’s best rugby league players, Don Bianchino, well-known for his on-field skills, has extended his range into fine foods and cheese and will be at Porchetta Day. He will run a salumeria (delicatessen) stall, featuring the best of the reggiano, provolone and gorgonzola cheeses for which Italy is famous.
Porchetta Day is at the Gunnedah Showgrounds on Saturday from 10am until 5pm.